Old Penalty Debt under review - where does this years payment go?!

I have historic penalties from 2011 which I have been trying to resolve for over 12 months - still awaiting response from HMRC even after submitting a complaint. My question is having completed my SA for 21/22 - am I able to pay the amount due for 21/22 which is for NI Class 2 only without it getting knocked off the existing disputed debt?! What I don’t want to happen is to pay the amount owed for 21/22 and then HMRC knock it off the old disputed debt and then say my payment for 21/22 is overdue

Hi,
 

It will automatically go to othe oldest charge. You can telephone you have this correctly allocated to the 21/22 charge on 0300 200 3310 . Thank you.