Still a little confused. Here is my pension forecast:
Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2016
£135.74 a week
Forecast if you contribute another 5 years before 5 April 2034
£155.65 a week
I have a COPE of £48.
On 5 Apr 2021 I will have contributed enough to reach the full £155, including the £48 COPE, giving me an actual state pension of £107. This is based on (roughly) 18 years full contribution and 17 years opted-out. If I continue to contribute for say another 5 years, will they take the extra full years over the opted-out years and credit me with 23 full years, and a "balance" of 12 years opted-out? Or are any extra contributions past 2021 effectively wasted in terms of my state pension?