Going off piste again27 Jul 2021 16:50
Remember when I asked the board's opinions about whether I should top up missing years of NICs? The general consensus was to do so to increase my pension, so I rang the pensions department up. The very helpful chap there said I COULD pay off all five years that I owed to receive £178 pw, but if I just paid off 3 years it would only drop my pension by one pound a week. "I'm not offering you advice" he said. "Just making you aware of this". He then gave me the number for the relevant HMRC dept. The chap I spoke to there said, yes, that's very true, and if you pay off the last three years instead of the first three, you'd save even more money. So, long story slightly shorter, I did, and due to the very helpful government employees, got an even better deal than I was hoping for. Result! And thanks for your advice too, fellow FUMsters.