NI Credits when in Education

green_man

Could anyone clarify if you get NI credits for being in Full time education.

I looked at various Gov pamphlets etc and it states that credits would be received for 16-18 years olds from 1975 but this was stopped in 2010. Does this mean it stopped for existing 16-18 year olds in 2010 or does it mean for anyone that hasn't already retired? In my case I was in full time education aged 16-18 in 1982-84 so do these two years count?

Also I thought you got credits whilst in Higher Education but can find no mention of this.

Thanks

JezR

People who had already received the credits kept them in their record. The future removal coincided with the large drop in years needed for a full basic pension to 30 years. Even with the new pension requiring 35 years there is plenty of buffer in a normal working life.

There were no credits for periods at university etc. Back in the day there were sometimes recommendations for people to pay voluntary NI to cover these periods, but these would with later changes have been a waste for most.

green_man

So in My case (I'm 49) you are saying the two years in 1982-84 do count?

I ask because I am considering early retirement and so would be wondering how far short of the 35 years required NI contributions I would be.

greenglide

You fill in this https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/shortforms/form/NIStatement?dept-name=&sub-dept-name=&location=40&origin=http://www.hmrc.gov.uk at the HMRC site to find out.

You also ask DWP for a pension statement, probably after nSP has started next year.