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UK State Pension Forecast and Topping Up: A Guide for Australian Residents
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If you’re an Australian resident who has lived or worked in the UK, you may consider topping up your UK State Pension by making voluntary National Insurance Contributions (NICs). Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate the process:
1. Getting a State Pension Forecast
To find out your UK State Pension entitlement, apply for a State Pension forecast. Anyone aged 16 or over and at least 30 days away from their State Pension age can apply.
There are three ways to apply for a State Pension forecast, as follows:
- The quickest way is online, via a Government Gateway account, and you can apply for a Government Gateway ID if you don’t already have one (you will need a valid UK photo ID to do this). This service provides an estimate based on your NIC record, including how much you could receive, your eligibility date, and ways to increase it. Apply online via Government Gateway
- By completing a BR19 form, which is available on the UK government’s website – Application for a State Pension Forecast You will need to print the completed form and post it to the address on the form.
- Call HMRC directly on 00 11 44 191 218 3600 and ask them to send you a State Pension forecast. Before doing so, ensure that they have your current contact details.
2. Eligibility for Voluntary Contributions
You may be eligible to pay voluntary NICs if you:
- Previously lived in the UK for 3 or more years, or
- Paid at least 3 years of NICs in the UK.
You may also qualify if you’ve worked or paid social security contributions in an EU country,
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or Turkey.
3. NIC Classes
There are two classes of NICs available:
- Class 2 NICs: Lower cost, available if you worked abroad and had been employed in the UK right before leaving.
- Class 3 NICs: Higher cost, suitable if you don’t qualify for Class 2.
4. Applying to top up NICs
There are two application methods:
- Online (preferred): Register for a Government Gateway ID if you don’t have one (you will need a valid UK photo ID to do this), and follow the prompts to complete the form. Apply online via Government Gateway
- Print and Post: Fill out the CF83 form online, print it, and post it to HMRC. Print and post form link
5. Required Information
Ensure you have the following information ready to complete your application:
- A valid UK photo ID (e.g. passport or driver’s licence) if applying online
- National Insurance number
- Date you left the UK
- Details of your last employment in the UK
- Employment history since your arrival in Australia
- Addresses in the UK (if you still have one) and abroad
6. Next Steps
Once your application is submitted, HMRC will assess your eligibility and notify you about payment details or if additional information is required.
Upcoming State Pension Increase (April 2025)
- Full New Flat-Rate State Pension: £230.25 per week (an increase of £472 per year).
**Important Deadline Update**
Although this April’s deadline still stands, there will now be some leeway for anyone who
struggles to get through on the phone.
- Anyone unable to contact the DWP before the deadline can submit an online call-back request form.
- People who submit a call-back request by 5 April will still be able to pay voluntary National Insurance Contributions back to April 2006, after the deadline has passed.
- Anyone in this position should save a screenshot of their call-back confirmation message. A return call should come within eight weeks.
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The information contained in this document is general information only
Vista Financial Services – www.vistafs.com.au – 08 8381 7177