OK, OK, so I know I said I would take a break from blogging. I will do. Honest. But I just had to write about this, because it’s pissed me off immensly.
One of the worst aspects of being a young worker under globalised capitalism is that every single gain that organised workers who have trodden the boards of class struggle before me, are being taken away. Job security, for instance. I don’t think I’ve managed to hold onto a job for longer than six months, though I’ve never, ever been fired from a job. Unionisation, as well - no matter how hard I try to unionise, it’s still difficult to persuade my fellow workers that it’s int their interests to join a union.
Still, there was the little matter of the welfare state which, despite all of the attacks made upon it by Thatcherites and Blarites alike, is still there. Thanks to the welfare state, I can go to the doctor, safe in the knowledge that they will check my blood pressure and not my bank balance. Also, during times of unemployment (two six-month spells so far) I know that I will not be totally fucked and have to live on wild berries and air (despite the system pushing me quite close to it.)
All in all, I like the welfare state. I like paying my National Insurance contributions - yes, you read that correctly, I like paying my NIC. Financial, and health security for a fiver a week? It’s a bargain, it’s a steal, it’s the deal of the fucking century.
One of the many rather wonderful (in context) things which my NIC pays for is my basic state pension. So, in retirement (if, of course, I actually do get to retire), I’m not totally fucked (at least if they actually restore the link to earnings and keep it there). So, imagine my surprise when this letter from my old chums at the HMRC came through today.
Our records for the 2004-2005 tax year show that you have not paid or been credited with enough National Insurance contributions to make this year count towards your basic State Pension.
You may be able to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions to make up the shortfall and protect your entitlement to basic State Pension. The amount of these contributions and the deadline for payment is shown below. Please do not worry, this letter is not a demand for payment.
Now, I know that I NEVER opt out of any NI contributions. I daren’t. One of my more unusual fears is that I will need to take something out of the welfare state and being told that I can’t.
What has happened is that one of my many employers has not made the appropriate NI contributions. Which means, I am nine weeks short of my pension. Needless to say, I am not pleased in the slightest.
Has this happened to anyone else, per chance?
I got one of these nice letters/bills once myself - but it didn’t have anything to do with some unscrupulous boss not forwarding the NI I’d paid onto the Inland Revenue, but more with the fact that I hadn’t been working/hadn’t signed on for a few weeks one year. If once of your ‘many employers’ has pocketed some of your contributions, I assume it should be fairly simple for you to find out which one it was, compare your pay slips/P60 and get it sorted out. Somehow. Or am I being naive?
To be honest, given my somewhat colourful employment history, it would be difficult to track down excactly who’s fucked me about. I have until 2011 to pay back £65. Shouldn’t be too hard!
I like paying NI too. I have to explain to all of my non-political mates that actually I would rather pay more.
But then, I would prefer them to be scaled on the basis of income. But what the hey.
I have just recieved one of these letters dated the 24th of november - delivered by Royal Mail on the 5th January (super excellent fast delivery!!) I wouldn’t mind paying £65 but they’re looking for £321.75….
The funny thing is, I’ve been with my employer for over 4 years… and i think i remember an email saying that this was a computer glitch with HMRC but i can’t seem to find anything on the web about it???