Legoiste

Hello. I left the UK in 1994, up until which I had worked and contributed 18yrs NI. I travelled outside of the UK over the next 4-5yrs without working (in any country). I then became a Canadian citizen in 1999 and to date have worked ever since as self employed paying Canadian tax. I have since contributed 15yrs voluntary NIC class 3 payments, bringing my UK pension to a current total of 33yrs, and am poised to pay two more. Before I do, though, I have long since felt the circumstance as to how I came to pay the more expensive class 3 confusing, and might be through a misunderstanding of the person advising me about not having worked immediately for the 4-5 yrs before landing in Canada as opposed to the criterion of having worked right up until I left the UK. Please clarify, would working up until my departure from the UK, despite not working for the next 4-5yrs overseas, not qualify me for class II. Thank you.