UK Government extends voluntary National Insurance deadline

The UK Government has extended the voluntary National Insurance deadline to 31 July 2023 to give taxpayers more time to fill gaps in their National Insurance record and help increase the amount they receive in State Pension.

This comes after members of the public voiced concern over the previous deadline of 5 April 2023.

The deadline extension was announced in a Written Ministerial Statement last week (7th March) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging taxpayers to ensure they don’t miss out.

Anyone with gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 onwards now has more time to decide whether to fill the gaps to boost their new State Pension. Any payments made will be at the lower 2022 to 2023 tax year rates.

As part of transitional arrangements to the new State Pension, taxpayers have been able to make voluntary contributions to any incomplete years in their National Insurance record between April 2006 and April 2016, to help increase the amount they receive when they retire. And after an increase in customer contact, the UK Government has extended the deadline l.to ensure people have time to make their contributions.

Victoria Atkins, The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: “We’ve listened to concerned members of the public and have acted.

“We recognise how important State Pensions are for retired individuals, which is why we are giving people more time to fill any gaps in their National Insurance record to help bolster their entitlement.”

Thousands of taxpayers with incomplete years in their National Insurance record could be financially better off in their retirement if they make voluntary payments to top up any incomplete or missing years.

Eligible taxpayers can find out how to check their National Insurance record, obtain a State Pension forecast, decide if making a voluntary National Insurance contribution is worthwhile for them and their pension, and how to make a payment on GOV.UK.

Taxpayers can check their National Insurance record, via the HMRC app or their Personal Tax Account.

HMRC: Taxpayers given more time for voluntary National Insurance contributions

The UK Government has extended the voluntary National Insurance deadline to 31 July 2023 to give taxpayers more time to fill gaps in their National Insurance record and help increase the amount they receive in State Pension.

This comes after members of the public voiced concern over the previous deadline of 5 April 2023.

The deadline extension was announced in a Written Ministerial Statement last week (7th March) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging taxpayers to ensure they don’t miss out.

Anyone with gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 onwards now has more time to decide whether to fill the gaps to boost their new State Pension. Any payments made will be at the lower 2022 to 2023 tax year rates.

As part of transitional arrangements to the new State Pension, taxpayers have been able to make voluntary contributions to any incomplete years in their National Insurance record between April 2006 and April 2016, to help increase the amount they receive when they retire. And after an increase in customer contact, the UK Government has extended the deadline l.to ensure people have time to make their contributions.

Victoria Atkins, The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: “We’ve listened to concerned members of the public and have acted.

“We recognise how important State Pensions are for retired individuals, which is why we are giving people more time to fill any gaps in their National Insurance record to help bolster their entitlement.”

Thousands of taxpayers with incomplete years in their National Insurance record could be financially better off in their retirement if they make voluntary payments to top up any incomplete or missing years.

Eligible taxpayers can find out how to check their National Insurance record, obtain a State Pension forecast, decide if making a voluntary National Insurance contribution is worthwhile for them and their pension, and how to make a payment on GOV.UK.

Taxpayers can check their National Insurance record, via the HMRC app or their Personal Tax Account.

£5k Musselburgh community fund deadline extended

Local causes called on to be in with chance of landing up to £1000

THE APPLICATION deadline for a community fund launched by an independent Scottish developer has been extended to ensure causes in and around Musselburgh don’t miss the chance to make their case.

The fund from Dundas Estates, which totals £5,000, will be distributed in £1,000 segments to five charities or community initiatives local to Musselburgh – whether it is to help them renovate a facility, secure a defibrillator or get a project off the ground and providing essential support, education or resources.

Craig Fairfoull, Head of Sales and Marketing at Dundas Estates, said: “We want to showcase this fantastic funding opportunity to as many amazing causes as possible as we know this kind of money is vital to charitable groups.

“When we first launched the fund at the start of summer, a few organisations might have missed out with it being a particularly busy period of time. Given the fund will provide lasting benefits to the surrounding community, the only option for us was to extend the deadline.

“Musselburgh already has a thriving and tight knit community with a number of local groups doing excellent work within the town, and this is something we are very keen to support.

“The cost of living crisis is bringing fresh challenges for good causes to navigate – so we hope this injection of funds will come at the perfect time for the five final recipients.”

In promoting and administering the fund, the housing developer is working closely with Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council (MICC) to help ensure worthy causes at the heart of the community are able to benefit.

Interested applicants can apply online via:

 https://www.dundas.co.uk/musselburgh-community-fund 

with applications now closing on Sunday 31st July.

The roll out of the fund comes as the Livingston-based firm launched its 140-home Wireworks development in the town, forming part of its pledge to deliver lasting benefits to the local area and in addition investing section 75 contributions of up to £400,000 towards schooling and infrastructure.

Dundas Estates, through a partnership with Tesco, East Lothian Council and NHS Lothian, acquired The Wireworks site after receiving planning permission to regenerate the former Brunton Wireworks site and neighbouring land in 2008.

Enliven Edinburgh campaign – up to £5,000 funding available

See below for details of the Enliven Edinburgh Campaign – the funding application form is attached below. 

The deadline for submissions has been extended to 5.00 pm on 22 April.

Enliven Edinburgh Campaign

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week,  which runs from 9 – 15 May will focus on loneliness and the Enliven Edinburgh campaign will use this week as a catalyst to highlight and spotlight the ways in which people can connect or reconnect. 

Funding of up to £5,000 is available for partnerships and organisations to either build on existing initiatives or create new initiatives and opportunities for people to connect and interact.

These don’t all have to happen doing this week, but there will be awareness raising of the initiatives during Mental Health Awareness Week.