How long to receive increased pension from additional voluntary contribution.

I turned 66 in July 2023 and have received a state pension since then. In November 2023 I made an additional voluntary contribution in respect of year to 5th April 2023, but my pension payment has not yet been increased. Can you tell me when it will be increased, and will the increased payment be backdated to when I made the payment?

Hi Robin Gillies,
If you could call our National Insurance Helpline and let them know that you are over State Pension Age they will arrange for your payment of voluntary contributions to be allocated.  
The Pension Service will then recalculate your pension entitlement and you may then wish to ask them when your pension increase will be from.  
The National Insurance Helpline telephone numbers are 0300 200 3500 (from the UK) or +44 191 2037010 (from overseas).
Thank you.

Hi Robin. I turned 66 in April 2023 and paid a large additional payment 4 weeks before. I have still not been paid my full pension or recieved any back payment. I have made several calls to the helpline as they advised you to do but all they do is check that I am still in the system and say that it will 'hopefully' be processed soon. I posted on this forum a few days ago but haven't had any replies. Good luck.

Andrew, thanks for your comment, much appreciated. This is the second episode I’ve had with my State Pension. Before I reached pension age I made a voluntary contribution. I can’t remember exactly when I made the payment but, while it certainly took a few months to process, I received the appropriate increased pension when I turned pension age. This time I made another voluntary contribution, in November 2023, after I’d reached pension age, in respect of year 22/23. I’ve phoned the helpline and they’ve said it could be at least another 4 weeks before my pension payment is increased. I did get confirmation that the increase would be backdated to when they received the voluntary contribution, and the agent did say he would chase the payment following my phone call. All the best!