| We are used to reviewing our private pension arrangements on a regular basis, but when was the last time you checked out your State Pension arrangements? The following notes assume you have not yet reached your State Pension retirement age, but you want to see how many more years National Insurance contributions (NIC) you will need to make to receive a full pension when you retire. State Pension and your NIC record Your new State Pension (NSP) is based on the number of NIC contributions you have made when you reach your State Pension retirement age. To qualify for any NSP you will need at least 10 qualifying years. To qualify for the maximum NSP you will need 35 years if you have no NIC record before 6 April 2016. What if you had gaps when you did not work? You may qualify for NIC credits for years you did not work if during those years:you claimed Child Benefit for a child under 12 years of age,if you received Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance; or you received Carer’s Allowance.In certain circumstances you can also make voluntary NIC contributions to fill gaps in your contribution record. How to increase your State Pension increase is 1% for every 9 weeks of deferral which comes to around 5.8% per year. For further details see: https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/what-you-get How to apply for a State Pension forecast There is a simple online process you can use to apply for this forecast. You can access it at https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension This will confirm how many years NIC contributions you have made and the current forecast of State Pension you would receive. NOTE: The government may extend the State Retirement Age or change the rates of NSP you might receive, which is why it is worth applying for a forecast on a regular basis. You will need to have a Government Gateway account to apply for a forecast. If you need help, please call, and we will talk you through what you need to do. If you have set up a personal tax account, then your National Insurance Contribution record and forecast State Pension can be accessed through the dashboard when logging on: Personal tax account: sign in or set up – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) For more information or to discuss any issues raised above please contact Simon Bell by phone on 01376 571358 or email [email protected] .Please feel free to forward this newsletter to any colleagues or friends who may be interested in it. This newsletter is written in general terms and therefore cannot be relied on to cover specific situations; applications of the principles set out will depend on the particular circumstances involved and it is recommended that you take professional advice before acting or refraining from acting on any material in the newsletter. |
August 2024 Update – HMRC Campaigns, Tax Returns and October Budget
Hello everyone, summer seems to have finally arrived and we have a new government settling in which brings the prospect of potential changes in the
