How much money you'll pay
Class 1
Class 1 contributions are based on how much you earn. They are paid to us by your employer.
Paying contributions if you're employed
Class 2
Class 2 contributions are paid by you. If we don’t hear from you, your contributions bill will be £975.80 per month in 2020.
If you have receive a Class 2 contributions statement (bill)
What are contributions?
Contributions are payments that you and your employer make by law. They go towards contributory benefits such as:
- Short-term incapacity allowance
- Long-term incapacity allowance
- Maternity Benefit
- Home Carers allowance
- Old Age Pension
Who must pay contributions
You're liable to pay contributions if you are:
This means that you're liable to pay contributions even if you are:
studying
looking after a family
not working
Difference between Class 1 and Class 2 contributions
Class 1
You pay Class 1 contributions if you are employed for eight hours or more per week.
6% is deducted from your wage and 6.5% is paid to us by your employer.
Class 2
You pay Class 2 contributions if you're not employed. This includes people who are:
self-employed
students
looking after a family
not working
Why you pay contributions
Contributions are paid so that we can provide a range of Social Security contributory benefits, pensions and health services to you when you’re in need. The table below shows where your contributions go.
Class 1 (Employee) | 5.2% | 0.8% |
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Class 1 (Employer) | 5.3% | 1.2% |
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Class 2 | 10.5% | 2% |
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Amounts over the standard earning level (Class 1 and Class 2) | 2.5% | 0% |
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Depending on your contribution record, you may be entitled to the full range of benefits.
These benefits include:
Short Term Incapacity Allowance
Long Term Incapacity Allowance
Incapacity Pension
Maternity Allowance
Maternity Grant
Old Age Pension
Death Grant
Survivor’s Benefit
If you can’t afford to pay contributions
In some cases, contribution credits are available. These protect your Social Security contribution record whilst you are studying or looking after children under school age. They also protect your entitlement to certain benefits.
You must apply for these as we don’t add them to your record automatically.
Contribution credits for people off work sick or injured
Contribution credits for people who have been made redundant
Contribution credits for a stay at home parent: Home Responsibility Protection
Student credits for people over 18 in full time education
We can also cover the contributions of people on:
- Maternity Allowance
- Survivor's Allowance
- Home Carer's Allowance
If you have a low income or aren't working
You can apply for Low Income Contribution Relief in 2020 if you:
- have a low income and aren't working
- are working and earning below £968 per month
-
self-employed with income less than £18,232 in the current year
Having Low Income Contribution Relief excuses you from paying Class 2 contributions.
If you don’t pay contributions, your future applications for benefits may be reduced or your application may not be approved for the following benefits:
- Incapacity Benefit
- Maternity Benefit
- Home Carers Allowance
- Pensions
How to apply
To apply for Low Income Contribution Relief, complete the form below.
Low Income Contributions ReliefWhen and how to pay contributions
Class 1
You’ll pay Class 1 contributions through your wages. You don’t need to do anything as these are paid directly to us by your employer.
Class 2
Class 2 contributions should be paid every quarter. Rates vary depending on your income and circumstances.
Contact us to discuss your options.
Pay contributions and instalments