National Pension back payment and lump-sum repayment explained

The diagram below is a self-made illustration, not a real screen.

The National Pension has two programs for adding periods to your record later: periods when you couldn’t pay, and periods you were refunded as a lump sum. This guide only explains the programs. Whether to use them depends on your situation, so talk to the NPS before deciding.

Who this suits

• People who had an exemption period, for example after losing a job
• People who were excluded as a spouse with no income
• People who once got a lump-sum refund and are insured again now

1. Back payment (chunap)

• Who: insured people with an exemption or exclusion history who are paying contributions now
• Eligible periods
• Exemption periods when you couldn’t pay, for example after losing a job
• Exclusion periods after at least 1 month of contributions, for reasons such as being a spouse with no income (exclusions for emigration do not count)

• Military service from 1 January 1988 (service counted under another public pension does not count)

• Limit: up to 119 months

• Installments: monthly, within 60 installments. Interest at the 1-year term deposit rate is added when you split payments.
• Documents: a detailed marriage certificate showing full resident numbers is required. Extra documents apply in some cases, such as a removed-register copy for a divorce or bereavement before 2008, or a military record for service periods.
• The bill arrives around the 11th to 15th of the month after you apply, and is due by the end of that month.

2. Lump-sum repayment

• Who: people who received a lump-sum refund and are insured again (including exempted people, and those over 60 if still insured)
• What: pay back the refund plus interest to restore your earlier insured period. It is optional.
• Deadline: only while you keep your insured status
• Installments (by earlier insured period): under 1 year, 3; 1 to under 5 years, 12; 5 years or more, 24. Term deposit interest is added.
• If you miss a payment, the NPS sends one notice and does not take arrears action.

3. How to apply (both programs)

• At an NPS branch, by post, by fax, on Government24, on the NPS website (after login), in the mobile app, or by digital ARS
• Submitting only registers the application. It is confirmed after the branch officer calls you to check.
• For expected pension amounts, ask an NPS branch or the NPS call center on 1355 (charged).

Common mistakes

• Applying for back payment while not paying contributions now
• Leaving out the marriage certificate, so the application can’t go ahead
• Thinking you can apply for lump-sum repayment after losing insured status

Checklist

• ☐ Insured now?
• ☐ Exemption, exclusion or military periods identified
• ☐ Detailed marriage certificate ready
• ☐ Lump-sum vs installments (interest added) understood
• ☐ Officer’s confirmation call received

To look for other money in your name, see our guide to finding hidden money.

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