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<ul><li><p>The Government has no plans to make refunds of Class 3 voluntary National
Insurance contributions paid prior to publication of the White Paper “Security in
retirement – towards a new pensions system” which was published on 25 May 2006 and
proposed a reduction in the number of qualifying years for a State Pension to 30,
which eventually came into force from 6 April 2010. As these contributions were correctly
paid at the time and cannot be refunded.</p><p> </p><p>Individuals who made voluntary
National Insurance contributions between 25 May 2006 and 26 July 2007 (or 11 February
2008 in the case of Northern Ireland), but would have chosen not to do so had they
been aware of the Government's intention to reduce the number of qualifying years
required for a full basic State Pension to 30, may be entitled to a refund because
the contributions could have been paid in error.</p><p> </p><p>From 6 April 2016 the
number of qualifying years needed for the new State Pension will increase to 35.</p></li></ul><p>
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