A cut and paste reply that clearly no human has been near but at least it gives you several contact points.
Clearly their AI parsing your email hasn’t been programmed for the inevitable rush of people currently contributing at Class 2 that will want to switch to Class 3. Which will be interesting as there may be some other requirements to qualify for this?
Are you thinking of calling them perhaps ?
@KarenLot Feels very click and paste doesn’t it. 
From what I’ve read on the links, if you’re currently paying class 3, then you don’t have to worry when April 2026 comes along, however for the rest of us, we have to apply via the CF83 form as a ‘new’ applicant again. This is what I’m trying to avoid, by switching early, but from the site and email it seems such a simple request is not possible.
Also, as they’re only notifying people in the summer, it means if you are able to switch to class 3, you will still need to back pay at least the months of May and June in order to qualify for the full year. I don’t understand why they’re not letting people know beforehand.
I’m going to call the Future Pension Centre helpline at the end of the month and explain my situation and ask if it’s possible. I guess I will have to call HMRC in order to get access to the government gateway with a French postal address.
I wrote to Future Pensions in early February, but haven’t received a reply, however I did manage to get through on the phone this morning.
The lady I spoke to was friendly, but didn’t give me confidence that her answers were entirely correct, she seemed a little hesitant, and used “I believe” or “I think” a little too much.
I’d asked if it was possible to pay class 3 this month to ensure a smooth transition going into April, but was told only HMRC could answer that (it’s likely a no anyway). She seemed to think that the direct debit would stay in place, and after April the new amount would be collected, but that seems unlikely, as they would have to contact us beforehand by letter and surely confirm the higher amount before taking it?
I also asked about the new stipulation of having lived in the UK for 10 years or having paid 10 years NI whilst living in the UK. She said I had no problems looking at my records, but I told her I’d only paid about 7 years whilst living in the UK, but she seemed adamant that my contributions whilst living in France counted towards those 10 years. I was also told that there should be a smooth transition and I wouldn’t need to reapply with a CF83 form.
As to the government gateway access, she told me I’d have to contact digital services for that, but gave me my forecast over the phone. I’ve 7 more years to pay to get the full state pension; in my head I thought I had about 11 or 12, so that was good news at least.
I sent a tracked letter to HMRC early March asking to pay the higher rate of class 3 going into April to ensure a smooth transition. LaPoste took possession of my letter, but ultimately lost it (never left the country). I ended up sending another letter before the month was through, but no signs of a response either.
In the meanwhile it appears HMRC are taking the regular class 2 contributions still, so I’ve no idea how that’s all going to pan out? Will they chase the difference when they send out letters in the summer?
Regarding my surprise number of contributions during my relatively short spell in the UK during adult life; I’ve still been trying to figure this out, but am wondering, prior to 2010, were students between the ages of 16-18 given NI credits? That might explain it.
Hi Gareth
Can’t remember the exact details but my friend and I were sixth formers in Belfast from 1980 to 1982 and we were both credited with NI contributions for those years.
Thanks Helenochka, That’s the only explanation I can think of. I need to contact digital services before I can get into my government gateway, but Future Pensions sent me a copy of my contributing years, and confirmed in writing I only have 7 left to go.
I got credits for NI from age 15/17 when I was at school doing Saturday job and then as a student working weekends and holidays. It was a trip down memory lane when I received the details as obviously all these years later I did not have any proof of doing those jobs nor pay slips kept
Hi Shiba, I did a lot of summer jobs in my teens, but I don’t think they significantly counted much towards NI. From what I can find online, I think every school student between 16-18 received NI credits prior to about 2010 or so.
When I was on the phone to Future Pensions I asked them how I could prove my time lived in the UK as I don’t have old payslips and my employers no longer exist, but I was told not to worry, they have records and I wouldn’t have any issues.
Yes, the places I worked weekends and holidays no longer exist either since many years back now. The names of the shops and offices etc were on the papers I got pre-pension with dates of employment etc. My mum got family allowance which went upto the age of 18 (still does upto that age) sp perhaps it came from that too
I don’t think it has anything to do with Saturday jobs etc. I was bone idle and still got credited.