Enough Years - Ceasing Payment?

[billynibbles]

In July 2000, I received a state pension forecast confirming that I had 33 years of recorded C/O NIC (Two school years from 16-18, plus 31 years of continuous employment with BT and its predecessors. Since then, I've also been working more sporadically for one of the London Boroughs, racking up about £45-£70 month in NICs. It would seem to me, that under the latest rulings, as I'm not 65 till 2015, that I've easily paid enough for the full state pension. Similarly, my wife has worked as a teacher continuously for 34 years, and her current C/O NICs being about £250/month.

Am I right in assuming that :-

a) We can now stop paying NICs, subject to proof from a recent pension forecast?

b) Since the 30 year ruling is recent, and as we haven't been making any voluntary extra payments, based on a previous forecast, we're not entitled to a refund?

If (a) is correct what do we do next? I've got the ball rolling by requesting my latest pension forecast.

Of course, the cynical might also ask when the Government were going to tell me I'd paid enough!

[AvocadoK]

Thirty years of contributions will entitle you to the full basic state pension. But that doesn't mean you can opt out of paying national insurance for the rest of your working life! Like tax, you have to pay it if your earnings exceed the threshold (tho unlike tax it ceases to be payable once you turn 65).

AK