COPE - A definitive answer please

[notnarcissus]

This COPE and pension stuff is like like trying to understand Cantonese to me

I retired from the LFB in 2009 after 32 years service
I have worked elsewhere for a further 13 years making a grand total of 45 years of NI contributions

I tried to use the Govt Gateway to access my NI records but my past post LFB role means I am unable to access my records online and it all has to be done by email, letters and phone calls (if you can get through!).

Frankly I wasnt that bothered as 45 years of NI payments sure must mean a full state pension when I qualify I 2025

But I was wrong. I received my pension forecast letter today and it shows a weekly pension of £3.51 less than the maximum of £185.15. OK, that's not much but it adds up to £164 a year. The letter doesnt tell me how much in contributions I need to buy to even things up

I havent been able to get through on the phone yet, but does anyone why on earth on earth I could possibly be missing out on the full pension?

If you can help - I would appreciate it if you could use plain English as if you were talking to a child

Are you still working now? This current tax year ends on the 5th April, so any shortfall should be sorted by this financial year of NI contributions. I don't know why you would still have had a shortfall but I'm sure you won't be too worried if this current financial year results in you being fully paid up.

[ben]

[A great post and well explained

Thank you everyone for the help you have given me getting to grips with the State Pension and COPE.

I have found out something additional which whilst not necessarily appertains to COPE it may be beneficial, if you're thinking of making additional NI contributions.

I retired in 2012 and at that point had 35 years Full NI contributions, however my State Pension forecast was less than the maximum due to our Contracted Out Rate.

Since 2019-20 tax year, I had through other employment started making Full NI contributions, 2019-2020 wasn't a full year but 2020-2021 was and so will the next tax year.

In order to boost my State Pension from the current forecast to the maximum I have decided to start making Voluntary Class 3 NI Contributions, if you look at your NI record online it will show any missing years where you can make additional contributions. In my particular case I just wanted to make a one off payment to make my 2019-20 year a full year and that would cost me £330. Other years were showing up at £800.80 per year.

When you contact HMRC (0300 200 3500) and make your way through the automated phone system one of the questions it asks is if you have contacted the "Future Pension Centre Centre" (0800 731 0181), whilst it would be easy to say Yes, because you have already looked at your NI record online, do not do so, instead say No and it will tell you to contact the Future Pension Centre.

On contacting the Future Pension Centre and them checking my record there were 3 years of NI Voluntary contributions I could have made that would have had no beneficial affect on my future State Pension, I could have quite easily paid £2,402.40 for no gain whatsoever, as the New State Pension came into effect on 6 April 2016 and it is those payments beforehand that are used to calculate your starting point for the New State Pension, as I already had 35 years I couldn't boost it any further, so the only years that personally have an effect on my New State Pension are those for the Tax Years 2016-2017 onwards.

It may seem an unnecessary extra phone call to make but it is very worthwhile as they can check your NI record and give you an instant pension forecast and tell you what years will boost your pension. The online site only tells you what your current forecast is based upon current payments and what the maximum could be.

For making this Voluntary Class 3 NI payment, your back on to HMRC for a long wait before you get through to an advisor who will then give you all the details you require to make the additional payment. Most importantly of all is an 18 digit reference number that is meant to ensure the payment you are about to make is credited to the correct tax year.

Now for an up to a 6 week wait to ensure the money has been credited correctly.

Hope the above helps someone else, and once again many thanks for all those who have helped me with this.

[ben]

This COPE and pension stuff is like like trying to understand Cantonese to me

I retired from the LFB in 2009 after 32 years service
I have worked elsewhere for a further 13 years making a grand total of 45 years of NI contributions

I tried to use the Govt Gateway to access my NI records but my past post LFB role means I am unable to access my records online and it all has to be done by email, letters and phone calls (if you can get through!).

Frankly I wasnt that bothered as 45 years of NI payments sure must mean a full state pension when I qualify I 2025

But I was wrong. I received my pension forecast letter today and it shows a weekly pension of £3.51 less than the maximum of £185.15. OK, that's not much but it adds up to £164 a year. The letter doesnt tell me how much in contributions I need to buy to even things up

I havent been able to get through on the phone yet, but does anyone why on earth on earth I could possibly be missing out on the full pension?

If you can help - I would appreciate it if you could use plain English as if you were talking to a child

HI ABee
I know is frustrating but you just have to keep on trying to get through, my forecast on the gov website also shows £185.15 per week and £805.07 per month, but these figures are wrong according to the lady I spoke to, for a start the new figure is £815.40 every 4 weeks not monthly which works out £10,600,20p per year, this is the new rate which starts on the 10th April

[bill.advanced]

This COPE and pension stuff is like like trying to understand Cantonese to me

I retired from the LFB in 2009 after 32 years service
I have worked elsewhere for a further 13 years making a grand total of 45 years of NI contributions

I tried to use the Govt Gateway to access my NI records but my past post LFB role means I am unable to access my records online and it all has to be done by email, letters and phone calls (if you can get through!).

Frankly I wasnt that bothered as 45 years of NI payments sure must mean a full state pension when I qualify I 2025

But I was wrong. I received my pension forecast letter today and it shows a weekly pension of £3.51 less than the maximum of £185.15. OK, that's not much but it adds up to £164 a year. The letter doesnt tell me how much in contributions I need to buy to even things up

I havent been able to get through on the phone yet, but does anyone why on earth on earth I could possibly be missing out on the full pension?

If you can help - I would appreciate it if you could use plain English as if you were talking to a child

ABee the whole system is a joke.

I worked and paid nhs for 50 years. 1971-2021. For fourteen of these years 1990-2004 I paid nhs from my fire service pay and my business. My current state pension is £666 every four weeks, £74 short of a full pension. I have contacted the WPS several times and hit a brick wall. My problem is that due to the fact I never missed a year I don’t have the option of making voluntary class 3 contributions to increase my pension. If I had missed years I would have been able to make a payment to give me the full pension. Ridiculous after working and paying into the system for 50 years that I would have to do this, even more ridiculous that due to the fact that I never missed a year, I don’t even get the option. I have decided to forget any further attempt, I have had enough. All the best ABee I hope you get your issue resolved.