National Insurance contributions while in USA

[Paul 0]

Is anyone else keeping theirs going? Excuse my ignorance but can someone explain the benefits/risks of paying/not paying? I may move back there one day if that makes the answers easier...?

Thanks!

[Stinky Monkey 1]

I have that on my todo list after my interview on Friday

What I have gathered so far is that you should contact your local tax office and ask them how many units you have to get to be eligable to get your UK pension, you can either pay a lump sum or leave money here so that they can take your NI stamp out monthly.

I was told by my private pension holders that I would be able to get the information from www.hmrc.gov.uk

This is all the info that I have, I have not actually done anything yet, and hopefully someone with the correct knowledge will post here to help you more than I can.

I plan to sort this out next week as soon as I have a leaving date, and my head is not full of affidavits haha

If you get any more info let me know

ta

[Kez/JWolf 6]

You can continue to pay class 3 contributions into your state pension. This will give you a retirment pention when you reach retirment age. It will also enable your spouse to claim benefits if you die first.

The first step is to get a Pension Forecast and it will tell you if you are missing any NI credits and if you are how you can make them up. Next you choose how you want to pay your class 3 contributions, Monthly, 6 monthly or yearly. You complete the Application form and send it to the oversees branch.

National Insurance Contributions

HM Revenue and Customs

Centre for Non-Residents

Room BP1301

Benton Park View

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

NE98 1ZZ

From outside the UK

+44 191 209 7010

Website

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk

Hope this helps

Oh Dont forget to complete a P85 to let the Inland Revenue know you are going to be non-resident in the UK and also claim back any tax you may have overpaid as you were not in the UK for the whole tax year.

Edited March 4, 2009 by Kez/JWolf

[Laura+Tom 2]

I'm not bothering, mainly due to my age. However I did calculate that my pension, with the link given above, would be worth a whopping £20 a week. Instead I have a civil service pension which I hope to transfer and a private one which I will keep up payments with.