State pension qualifying years

ozzage

Hi all

i'm a bit perplexed and hope somebody can shed light on this question.

If I moved to the UK in 2008, how is it possible that my pension forecast shows me having 9 qualifying years? I would have expected to have (at best) 7 years.

Can they not do simple maths, or are there some "bonus" years added on somehow? I mean, I'm not complaining.

gadgetmind

There used to be a couple of years added on for those at school between 16 and 18 - maybe they've added those by mistake?

ozzage

Thanks Gadgetmind. I can't think of anything else it might be so maybe you're right. I guess I better not rely on that..

uknick

You can ask DWP how they have arrived at the figure;

https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

It takes about a month to come back and is pretty comprehensive.

FatherAbraham

ozzage wrote: »

Hi all

i'm a bit perplexed and hope somebody can shed light on this question.

If I moved to the UK in 2008, how is it possible that my pension forecast shows me having 9 qualifying years? I would have expected to have (at best) 7 years..

Because you got some credits for the years when you were 16 and 17, in order to not disadvantage children who stay longer at school, rather than starting to work.

You only just got this credit: if I recall correctly, the retrospective award for folks who joined the National Insurance system as adults by coming to the UK was stopped in about 2010 or so. So if you arrived today and startwed working here, you wouldn't have received those extra credits. Lucky you!

Warmest regards,
FA

ozzage

Well, well all very interesting!

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/220274/eia-ni-credits-changes.pdf

Since April 1975, NI contributions have been credited to people for the tax year in which they reach age 16 and the following two tax years in order to protect their future basic State Pension entitlement and Bereavement Benefits for a spouse or civil partner (“Starting Credits”). The policy intention behind the credits was to ensure that young people staying on in education beyond the minimum school leaving age did not lose future benefit entitlement as a result. There is no requirement for the individual to be in the UK at the relevant age. This was primarily to ensure that young people being educated outside the UK were not penalised.

So both my wife and I are genuinely entitled to these NI "starting credits". What great news as we are never going to hit 35 years to get the full pension, but this will help us to get a bit closer

gadgetmind

You're already close to the (new) minimum of 10 years.

atush

Yes, if you arrived earlier than 2010 you get those extra years. I got them too even though I didn't live here then.

Rollingstart

FatherAbraham wrote: »

Because you got some credits for the years when you were 16 and 17, in order to not disadvantage children who stay longer at school, rather than starting to work.
FA

Ah that rule does my head in. I paid NI when I was 16,17,18 (whilst at school) but I went to uni for six years (and didn't get a job during uni) and I've been told that I don't get anything for the six years at uni.

The rule should really be not to disadvantage people when they're in education.