alyev

I work abroad in the EU and want to make voluntary NI payments to ensure I have a full UK pension entitlement, but I am unclear if I should pay class 2 or 3. Form NI38 Guidance on Social Security abroad states that: "You can pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions if you’re employed or self-employed abroad if: Immediately before going abroad, you were ordinarily an employed or self-employed earner in the UK". What is the interpretation of “ordinarily employed”? Specifically, if i worked for many years but then had a gap of a few months (not claiming any benefits, supported by my partner) and then left the UK to work abroad, am I classed as ‘ordinarily employed’ at the time of leaving the UK? I was employed and paid NI in the UK for 15 years until mid 2019. Then i left work, for several months (I was unwell, but was financially supported by my partner), then moved to the EU and started work in 2020.