I thought it was worth updating this thread as I have now had my first full month state pension payment.
For anyone considering paying for additional NI just be aware that HMRC progress these cases very slowly. They took my payment for additional years immediately online but several months later it was still not credited against my record. I rang them and they said it was because I had paid for four years in one go (as instructed!) This was allegedly because their system can only take a payment against one year and then it needs manual reallocation to split it.
Several more weeks passed and my online forecast was still not showing the proper, higher amount. I wrote to HMRC to politely jog it along. After a further delay a very competent sounding guy rang me full of apologies. He all but said the delay in allocating my payment was due to the previous person not doing their job properly. After this call the process ran like clockwork with new tax code etc in place and online pension payment to my account.
As stated earlier in this thread people need to do their own research and take professional advice as necessary, including any effect on their workplace pension, but for my circumstances it’s good value.
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