NI credits as a full time mum

Vicky1973

Hi, I understand that to ensure that I receive a pension when I retire I must have been collecting NI credits, this was automatic when I was collecting child allowence, but now, due to my husbands salary we are not entitled to it anymore. So that we don't have to pay it back at the end of a tax you I have cancelled receiving it. Does this now mean that I no longer get NI credits?
HELP please I am confused!!

zagfles

I think there's some mechanism whereby you're registered as entitled to it but don't get paid, which will preserve your NI record. Give them a ring and confirm this, see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/start/claiming/protect-pension.htm#7

jackyann

I think that you are thinking of the Home Responsibilities Protection scheme, that ran from 1978-2010. It was scrapped when pension arrangements changed.
I remember thinking how clever of the government to trumpet that "stay at home mums" would be helped by only needing 30 years NI credits for a pension instead of the previous 39 - whilst conveniently forgetting that they were taking away the most helpful protection.
So - as long as your name was on the child allowance / benefit book between 1978 to 2010, you get a credit for each year (but you need to check, as the qualifying children's age changed during that time) https://www.gov.uk/home-responsibilities-protection-hrp
I don't know if anything is in place for those with other caring responsibilities, and I think there is still something for foster parents, but I don't know the details.
Obviously I don't know your circumstances, and whether you can afford either to pay your NI voluntarily or pay for a private pension, but I would consider this very seriously. You may have plans in place to ensure that you get enough credits for a State Pension anyway, and I would look at this - if need be, contact the Pensions Agency who are very helpful (they prefer "planning" calls to "frantic" ones!)
I welcomed the "Home Responsibilities" payment as I had known women who missed out seriously on having their own pension. Good for you to be thinking about it now.

atush

If you get some sort of PT job self employed for even one hour per week, you can get cheaper NI contribs.

I have heard of some here say they registered as a 'sage' lol.

mrschaucer

Don't worry too much. HRP might have finished in 2010 but it was replaced with automatic credits if you look after a child under 12, see https://www.gov.uk/state-pension/eligibility for details. If you are already registered for child benefit then your automatic NI credits will continue until the child is 12 even if you "opt out" of receiving the actual payments.

zagfles

jackyann wrote: »

I think that you are thinking of the Home Responsibilities Protection scheme, that ran from 1978-2010. It was scrapped when pension arrangements changed.
I remember thinking how clever of the government to trumpet that "stay at home mums" would be helped by only needing 30 years NI credits for a pension instead of the previous 39 - whilst conveniently forgetting that they were taking away the most helpful protection.
So - as long as your name was on the child allowance / benefit book between 1978 to 2010, you get a credit for each year (but you need to check, as the qualifying children's age changed during that time) https://www.gov.uk/home-responsibilities-protection-hrp
I don't know if anything is in place for those with other caring responsibilities, and I think there is still something for foster parents, but I don't know the details.
Obviously I don't know your circumstances, and whether you can afford either to pay your NI voluntarily or pay for a private pension, but I would consider this very seriously. You may have plans in place to ensure that you get enough credits for a State Pension anyway, and I would look at this - if need be, contact the Pensions Agency who are very helpful (they prefer "planning" calls to "frantic" ones!)
I welcomed the "Home Responsibilities" payment as I had known women who missed out seriously on having their own pension. Good for you to be thinking about it now.

You still get NI credits if your youngest child is under 12. In fact this is improved, because HRP never gave you credits before 2010, it reduced the number of years you needed, you still needed credits from other means to get the state pension.

But in 2010 they converted HRP to credits. They also aligned the rules for the basic and additional pension, previously child had to be under 6 for the additional pension and 16 for the basic, now it's 12 for both.

See http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/start/claiming/protect-pension.htm

p00hsticks

jackyann wrote: »

I think that you are thinking of the Home Responsibilities Protection scheme, that ran from 1978-2010. It was scrapped when pension arrangements changed.
I remember thinking how clever of the government to trumpet that "stay at home mums" would be helped by only needing 30 years NI credits for a pension instead of the previous 39 - whilst conveniently forgetting that they were taking away the most helpful protection.

According to the gov website there is still something similar in place to credit NI contributions that count towards state pension for child care providing the child is under twelve, but it isn't now dependent on receipt of child benefit (and so grandparents and extended family could also be eligible) and has to be applied for

https://www.gov.uk/boost-state-pension/eligibility

jackyann

Thanks to all who put me straight, and I apologise if I unintentionally misled OP.
I am also glad that there is something in place for those who are caring for young children.