LXV not out

[kevinchess1]

Pension age rises to 66 for men and women and others

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54421662

Even worser news for Hugh/Colin, due to rise to 66'5 in April 2026 right before their birthdays
But there gutted

[macliam]

No real surprise - I received my first payment exactly 20 days before my 66th birthday........ reduced because of my private pension, ignoring self-employed stamps paid before I went back to Ireland after Uni and all contributions there. The figure changed so many times that I'm sure 3 different people would have given 3 different numbers

[kevinchess1]

If you get yourself a GOV account you can check all the NI payment you made dating back to your first job

[macliam]

If you get yourself a GOV account you can check all the NI payment you made dating back to your first job

I did, they didn't
They asked if I had worked and paid contributions outside the UK at any time, I gave them the details and they just used the "end date" of that period as my first contribution in the UK!! They also asked for my Irish social wefare number and then ignored it....... But, as I said, given the varying stories I was given regarding being "opted out", I gave up trying to batter my head against a brick wall. Given the drop is little (I had more than enough UK contributions paid) and any extra just means more tax on my private pension, I can't be bothered........

[BeautifulSunshine]

If you get yourself a GOV account you can check all the NI payment you made dating back to your first job

I did, they didn't
They asked if I had worked and paid contributions outside the UK at any time, I gave them the details and they just used the "end date" of that period as my first contribution in the UK!! They also asked for my Irish social wefare number and then ignored it....... But, as I said, given the varying stories I was given regarding being "opted out", I gave up trying to batter my head against a brick wall. Given the drop is little (I had more than enough UK contributions paid) and any extra just means more tax on my private pension, I can't be bothered........

Professional legal advice is the way to go.