New pension rules - Men looking after children?

love2learn

Hi,

In the last week we've seen the new pension rules. I notice there's constant sexist wording stating "women who take time out to look after children will receive credits for the time out".

But what about men?!?!

My wife is the main bread winner in our house, earning 4 times what I earn. We are planning to start a family, and logically I would be tasked with looking after our child. Should I be assuming this legislation will apply to men also?

Or has the government actually introduced sexist legislation?

zzzLazyDaisy

It is the person named on the child benefit book who gets the NI credits. So if you are going to be a stay at home dad, make sure the CB is in your name.

I don't think it is so much a case of sexist legislation, as sexist assumptions by whoever wrote the piece you were reading

love2learn

Thanks for your reply. Regarding the Child Benefit Book, would I still get one if my wifes a high earner? I'm not expecting any money, but I'm not sure if I qualify for one as my wife earns over £50k per year.

atush

Yes, you would but some of it would be clawed back in tax up to earning 60K on a sliding scale. We can['t say how much as we don't know how far above 50K she earns. You would get it in full if she puts enough into her work pension to earn just at/under 50K.

All savings accts that pay interest outside of ISAs should be in your name to pay no tax (40% tax will charged on any in her name and will affect the CB threshold).

zzzLazyDaisy

OP there is an article here that talks about child benefit and NI credits for the primary carer, in the case of high earners

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/alison-garnham/new-tax-rules-on-child-be_b_2076719.html

Apparently the govt has given an assurance that NI credit will still be given for primary carers who stay at home to look after children, but has not disclosed how this will be achieved if the working partner's earnings mean that the couple no longer qualifies for CB.

The advice seems to be to apply for CB anyway, so that your underlying entitlement is registered. But if there is room for manouvre as suggested by other posters, it would make more sense for you to arrange your finances so that you continue to receive CB as primary carer.

kidmugsy

Cheer up, love2learn: changing nappies is much less awful than people say.