NI Contribution Record Query

CathA

I've received a letter from HMRC about my contributions over the years, which I asked for to check the payments I've made.

I've got 36 qualifying years up to 2014, made up from working full time, part time, HRP and also I had some years contracted out. I've already had a pension forecast (I'm nearly 54, so come under a mix of the new scheme and old scheme).

So far I've understood everything that has been sent to me, but there's something very strange on my contribution record that I'm hoping someone can explain.

From years 89-90 onwards, credits have been added to my records, which ties in with the birth of my eldest daughter so I gather that they are related to the time I was claiming maternity benefit and child benefit. I have several years where I have either 52 or 53 credits, which ties in with the fact that some tax years are 52 or 53 weeks.

However, several years have 57, 72, 74 or 75 NI credits. Some of these years have no actual NI contributions from me (stay at home mum/not enough earnings etc). My question is where do these numbers come from? Thanks all for any ideas.

CathA

Any ideas anyone? Thanks.