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If you have a question regarding the British pension and you cannot find the answer elsewhere on this site, send an email to
 BAPA Pension Queries.

Here are some questions and answers we have received from enquirers by email or 'phone.

Q. How much is it to pay Voluntary Contributions?

A. The astonishing answer from the IR is that if you are working it will cost less than a third than if you are not working.

Class 2 rate is £109.20 if you are working.

If you are not working, you must pay the class 3 rate of £392.60.

You must pay a whole year or a multiple of a whole year. For back payments you will be given a schedule of what to pay.

HM Revenue & Customs: National Insurance Contributions

Q. I want to pay Voluntary Contributions. How do I get a forecast of what my pension will be?

A. Email and postal address material are all available on the web http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/atoz/atozdetailed/rpforecast.asp

Q. I am an Australian resident receiving a UK pension. Will I be eligible for a UK pension card, will such a card entitle me to concessions on rail bus and ferry transport, if yes how do I get one?

A. To obtain transport concessions you have to apply to the DWP at Newcastle for an identification card confirming that you are a UK pensioner, and in the past it has been identified as a BR 464 card, about the size of a credit card. Most local councils and national transport companies will accept the card for concessions if they are available to pensioners. British Rail most certainly do.

Q. How do I get my pension uprated during visits to the UK?

A. Tell them before you go, tell them when you get there, tell them when you get back.

If you don't tell them until after you get back, you run the risk that the bureaucrats will refuse your claim.

Q. If I pay Voluntary Contributions can I claim them as a tax deduction?

A. No. When your pension comes into payment you will be able to claim a deduction of 8% as "Undeducted Purchase Price". You will find this in the Tax Pack Supplement.

Q. If I become an Australian citizen, will I lose my UK pension?

A. No. You will not lose your British pension nor your British citizenship.

Q. Is it worth while paying voluntary contributions?

A. Yes.

If you have less qualifying years than the minimum, payment of Voluntary Contributions can bring you up to the minimum level and start a pension over £20 per week (based on 2006 basic rate).

If you have more than the minimum qualifying years payment of one year VC will increase your pension by 2% or 3% of the basic rate. (The table goes up in steps of 2% or 3% a bit irregularly). Assuming you pay 2 years and get an increase of 5%, that comes to £4.20 per week or over £200 per year. At present rates this would cost you about £750.

If you are a man and your wife is over retirement age the increase in your pension will also carry an increase in the supplementary pension payable to her.

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