NIC contributions

Samsaragirl

Just jogged my memory, first of all, as a recipient of carers allowance, are my national insurance contributions kept up to date?

Also, I was registered self employed, and still am, even though I have not been self employed for about 8 years. I get a bill for contributions periodically. As probably I will never work for an employer again, but may become self employed, is it in my interest to keep this account going?

I do a self assessment return every year, very funny.

Maybe should cut and paste this to the taxboard?

Samsaragirl

Just jogged my memory, first of all, as a recipient of carers allowance, are my national insurance contributions kept up to date?

Also, I was registered self employed, and still am, even though I have not been self employed for about 8 years. I get a bill for contributions periodically. As probably I will never work for an employer again, but may become self employed, is it in my interest to keep this account going?

I do a self assessment return every year, very funny.

Maybe should cut and paste this to the taxboard?

NASA_2

You are credited with class one credits while claiming Carers Allowance. Almost as good as a paid contribution.

As for whether it is worth paying class 2 for being self-employed. It sounds like you are not self employed any more so I wouldnt pay them. Your Carers Allowance is looking after your national insurance record anyway.

Samsaragirl

Thanks Nasa for confirming my understanding. So should I ring tax office, as have done in the past, and tell em I'm not self employed amymore?

It's always a pain

Done it for a few years just re CGT then never bothered to cancel

How do both types of contributions work?

IF I get sick now and have been claiming Carers for 2 years, will I be able to claim ESA.

NASA_2

Samsaragirl wrote: »

Thanks Nasa for confirming my understanding. So should I ring tax office, as have done in the past, and tell em I'm not self employed amymore?

It's always a pain

Done it for a few years just re CGT then never bothered to cancel

How do both types of contributions work?

IF I get sick now and have been claiming Carers for 2 years, will I be able to claim ESA.

If you claim ESA now you would most likely satisfy the contribution conditions under what is called 'Special Considerations'. This means that because you have satisfied the second contribution condition (this condition can be satisfied solely by claimaing benefits) you can be treated as having satisfied the first condition (You normally need to have worked in the relevant tax years to satisfy this) by virtue of having satisfied the condition if it was satisfied in any year going back decades.

That said - if you have been paying class 2 contributions then you will satisfy through them as well assuming you have paid the full years worth each year.

Savvy_Sue

Samsaragirl wrote: »

Just jogged my memory, first of all, as a recipient of carers allowance, are my national insurance contributions kept up to date?

I believe so, but the Benefits board might know more about that. Who are you caring for? (child / parent / partner / other adult)

Samsaragirl wrote: »

Also, I was registered self employed, and still am, even though I have not been self employed for about 8 years. I get a bill for contributions periodically. As probably I will never work for an employer again, but may become self employed, is it in my interest to keep this account going?

Are you paying this bill? you know you can ask for a Certificate of Exemption if your earnings from self employment are low enough?

As to whether it's worth keeping it going, I'd ask HMRC. It's not exactly difficult to register as self-employed.

Samsaragirl wrote: »

I do a self assessment return every year, very funny.

Again, you can ask HMRC if they are willing to stop sending you one since you haven't had anything to declare for a while. But for that you might have to end your self-employed status.