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Written question asked by Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 15 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 January 2026. It was answered by Torsten Bell (Labour) on Friday, 23 January 2026 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

International Pension Centre: Standards

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Department has made of the adequacy of the time taken to process applications to purchase voluntary National Insurance contributions through the International Pensions Centre before the April 2025 deadline.

Answer

Telephony demand from individuals seeking to pay Voluntary National Insurance Contributions (VNICs) ahead of the 6th April 2025 deadline was significant. In response, DWP provided routes for individuals to register their interest in paying VNICs. DWP introduced an online call-back form, a route for citizens to register their interest over the telephone and where possible, individuals were sent confirmation text messages.

Where individuals registered an interest to pay VNICs on or before the April 2025 deadline, the Department is honouring pre-deadline rates for all, even if the payment of VNICs is made after the deadline. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs, will receive an increase to their State Pension.

For individuals living overseas (who are already over State Pension age), all DWP call-back requests were completed before the end of December 2025.

Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs based on pre-deadline rates, will receive an increase to their State Pension. The pre-deadline contribution rates required to purchase the relevant qualifying years will be honoured.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
106252
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Standards Voluntary contributions International Pension Centre
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk