Pension forecast query

mazzy

I have just got my pension forecast and it states that I have 30 years worth of contributions.

My rough working history is as follows
77-82 ten hours a week
82-84 15 hours a week
84-2013 32 1/2 hours a week

I had two children born 71 & 73

I realise that in those early years I probably did not earn enough to pay NI but surely I would qualify for being at home with a child.
As I understand it as from 1978 you were credited for a child up to 12, am I disqualified from that as I was working two hours a day? I was claiming child benefit and I thought they worked it from that. If not how have I 30 years when I have only worked longer hours for 29 years?

The reason I am concerned is that I was born October 1953 and therefore come under the new rules that need 35 years worth of contributions and I want to retire in 2014. It will be a good while until I get my state pension but I do have a final salary one to keep me going. I don't want to find myself short on contributions for the state pension.

SeekTruth

mazzy wrote: »

I have just got my pension forecast and it states that I have 30 years worth of contributions.

My rough working history is as follows
77-82 ten hours a week
82-84 15 hours a week
84-2013 32 1/2 hours a week

I had two children born 71 & 73

I realise that in those early years I probably did not earn enough to pay NI but surely I would qualify for being at home with a child.
As I understand it as from 1978 you were credited for a child up to 12, am I disqualified from that as I was working two hours a day? I was claiming child benefit and I thought they worked it from that. If not how have I 30 years when I have only worked longer hours for 29 years?

The reason I am concerned is that I was born October 1953 and therefore come under the new rules that need 35 years worth of contributions and I want to retire in 2014. It will be a good while until I get my state pension but I do have a final salary one to keep me going. I don't want to find myself short on contributions for the state pension.

I have a theory that the State Pension Forecast will (currently) only show a maximum of 30 years' entitlement because that is all that is required under the current system. Suggest you do a check on your National Insurance records (see link).

Jack_Griffin

The current rules only require 30yrs to qualify for full basic pension, so that is what they put on the statement.

My last statement said 30years, but when I sent off for a statement of NI years I had I found that I had 35years.

The rules have not changed yet.

mazzy

Thank you both for your replys. I wondered if that was the case but my husbands that we sent for at the same time states 47 years of contributions on his so that made me question it.

I have sent for my NI record, just posted as i am an impatient beggar and wanted to know if I am right about the years of childcare.

jem16

mazzy wrote: »

As I understand it as from 1978 you were credited for a child up to 12, am I disqualified from that as I was working two hours a day? I was claiming child benefit and I thought they worked it from that. If not how have I 30 years when I have only worked longer hours for 29 years?.

It shouldn't disqualify you unless you were paying the married woman's stamp which seems unlikely if you have 30 years contributions.

These notes should help explain it.


http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/cf411-notes.pdf

You may need to actually claim HRP.

https://www.gov.uk/home-responsibilities-protection-hrp/overview

mazzy

Thanks for that. I am wondering if Family allowance was in my husbands name so will check it out when I get my NI statement if it doesn't show HRC for me.

mazzy

How long does it take to get a NI contributions statement? I applied by phone 3 weeks ago and as yet haven't received it. I got my pension statement after a week so assumed it wouldn't take that long for NI one, don't know how long to wait before contacting them again.

I am wondering if they are saying I am eligible for full state pension with 30 years now as they are assuming i will carry on until state pension age when I will have the required 35.

It is important to me as I am thinking of retiring on my company pension next year when my husband retires but don't want to find myself short when i finally get state pension.

SeekTruth

I applied for a record of NI contributions on the 24th March and received it on 29th April.

The government website (https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-statement) states:

The online statement may state that you only have 30 qualifying years even if there are more on your record. This won’t affect your estimated amount and it will be fixed soon.

Under current regulations you require 30 years for a full basic state pension. It is possible (likely?) that this will increase to 35 years but any pension forecast at the moment will only be based on the current regulations.

mazzy

Thanks for that, it was only that my husbands we got at the same time had 47 years on it, thats what made me worry that I really had only 30.

How can people make plans without accurate information.

mazzy

Finally got my NI records and according to them I have 30 years of contributions, they have no record of HRC years. I have phoned them and got put through to the dept dealing with that as I have no idea what my Family Allowance number was, my children are 40 and 42 and I haven't kept paperwork going back to when they were kids.

I will get it sorted as someone is phoning me tomorrow about how I have to proceed with my claim as I believe I am entitled to at least 6 years HRC as i started paying contributions in 84/85 so the years from 78 - 84 should be covered by HRC.

I never imagined I would have to claim these as I assumed they would have kept records up to date, just shows you need to start retirement planning well in advance.

I would just advise any mums out there to make sure you hang on to your Child Allowance number until retirement.

xylophone

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/cf411.pdf 2 –" Child Benefit
Fill in this section if you were awarded Child Benefit for a child under 16 and you think there may be
tax years where HRP is missing from your National Insurance account.

Tell us your Child Benefit number (if known)"

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/cf411-notes.pdf