National Insurance and pension qualifying years whilst non resident

Hi, I will be spending the next 4 years travelling around the world without staying in any one place long enough to become resident there. Having no ties to the UK will become non resident when I leave. I will continue to be paid £1,000 per month by my UK employer. I am struggling to find out if I will continue to build up qualifying years towards my pension. Please can you advise? If not, am I obligated to inform HMRC that I will be abroad as I will be beneath the tax threshold anyway, and if I did not tell anyone would continue to accrue qualifying years anyway.

Hi,

Unfortunately we cannot give specific advice about your NICs whilst travelling around the world, but you can find general advice via the following link on Gov.uk

Social Security abroad: NI38

You will need to confirm with your employer if they will be deducting NIC from your monthly earnings. If you are earning below the monthly Treshhold for deducting NICs, you may not have a Qualifying year towards your pension. There is information in the above leaflet about paying voluntarily into the UK system.  

If you need any further advice, you can contact our International NI Enquiry line.

National Insurance: non-UK residents

Thank you.