Problem reaching Future Pensions from abroad

I received a letter earlier this year stating that my application to pay Class 2 contributions to make up the shortfall has been accepted, but to contact Future Pensions to find out if my State Pension will increase if I do so. As I live abroad, the option I have is to call +441912183600, but this is either broken or too busy. I have been trying to reach the number for weeks, calling at all times of the day, including 8 am on the dot, but not only can I not reach anyone, I cannot even get in a queue. As my only other option, I have sent numerous written queries through the online forms, but these seem to be marked as "Complete" as soon as they register on the system, despite nobody contacting me either by the telephone or email options. If there is another way to contact Future Pensions I would like to learn it as all my options seem to have been exhausted.

Please respond.

Hi,

Sorry, we can only answer HMRC questions on this forum.

Thank you.

HMRC wrote to me and advised me to speak to Future Pensions, which is proving to be impossible through the number you provided. Can you direct me to the correct forum/number please?

Hi Colin Sutcliffe,
To obtain a State Pension Forecast you may use this weblink:  Check your State Pension forecast or you may wish to call them on  0800 7310175 (from the UK) or +44 191 2183600 (from overseas).
Thank you.

Hi, I would like to pay for gaps in my pension. I have traied to call Future Pension on 08007310175 but it is impossible to talk to them. Does anyone have any other contacts? many thanks.

I have exactly the same problem as Colin. I live in a different timezone and have tried calling the Future Pensions office over and over - the best result I’ve got is to be on hold for hours, only for the call to be dropped. There is no website or online account management option, and no option to email them. The hold system gives the caller no idea of the length of the wait time, and pointlessly loops a ‘thank you for waiting’ voice every 20 seconds – for hours. This is the only way the UK govt has given for people in my situation to contact them – and it doesn’t work.

The same, incredibly frustrating - I have paid in many years additional contributions and have no record of them some 5 months on with no way of accessing help

Also need to contact from abroad but cannot. Please can we have an online chat or email to contact them.

I have been experiencing the same problem. In the end I sent a message via TextPhone which I assume can receive text messages. However, I don't feel very optimistic. Do we need to start contacting MPs? Will they even care?

I gave up on trying to contact future pensions from abroad - it's futile. I have a letter (dated February 2024) confirming that I can pay class 2 contributions to fill the missing years since 2006, although the website still says I need to pay class 3. I arranged the payment (just under 3,000 GBP) back in July, but this is still not reflected on the online records. Where can I get confirmation that this has been received and accepted? How do I obtain an updated statement from abroad?

I've been trying for nearly three years to call the Future Pensions Centre and it's impossible to get through. I wrote to them some time back, but it took them 7 months to respond and their letter just referred me back to the HMRC NI website, so no use whatsoever. I don't have the time or the patience to engage in a discussion via surface mail if HRMC takes 7 months to respond each time. I would very, very much like a way of contacting them before the 2025 deadline.

Hi Colin,
Sorry for the problems that you’re experiencing in trying to contact Future Pension Centre.
Their telephone number from overseas is +44 191 218 3600.
It can take up to 8 weeks for your payment of voluntary contributions to be reflected on your Personal Tax Account so you may wish to call the National Insurance Helpline on +44 191 203 7010 and they will be able to ensure that your payment has been received and arrange for allocation. You may wish to have your payment details handy when you call.
Your Personal Tax Account will be able to show you your updated State Pension entitlement once your payment of voluntary contributions has been allocated.
Thank you. 

 

Hi stuart,
Details of how to contact Future Pension Centre can be found here:
Contact the Future Pension Centre
If you would like a State Pension Forecast to check your current and future entitlement to a UK State Pension, then you may obtain this here: 
Check your State Pension forecast
Thank you. 
 

I have spoken to the NI Helpline (+441912037010) this morning and they have confirmed that my payment has been received, but that it may take more than the stated 8 weeks to be reflected online for payments made from abroad. I was on hold for 20 minutes, but they were very helpful when I got through. I suggest you try there Joe Bennett, Charlie Butterworth, stuart robinson, etc.

Facing the same issue. I will also try on the above number - thanks! Been trying to call for the past two months and never managed to reach anyone, just wasting money on hold. Today I called around 10 times and the number connects and disconnects after the selecting the menu options.

I've also tried to contact Future State Pension at the following numbers to no avail (waited 30mins on each call): +440800 731 0175 +440800 731 0181 I'm directed to these phone contacts from my account on gov.uk because the option to pay for voluntary contributions online is not available. Could you please advise on how to best proceed?

Hi Daniele De Matteis,
The correct telephone number for Future Pension Centre for customers outside of the UK is:  +44 191 218 3600. 
Thank you.

Hi, I too have been trying to contact Future State Pension on +44 191 218 3600 (and various other numbers). I get the same response... after initally being automatically asked if i want English (press 1) or Welsh (Press 2) and pressing 1, i hear nothing else... No confirmation response or any further requests to press other numbers... just silence... I have tried pressing 1 (and also 2 for Welsh), but nothing.... this has been going on for a long time now... i suggest your automatic phone direction system is broken.