NI credits

CathA

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5444614

I've just discovered this in another section and wondered if it is worth me claiming it next year? I will be looking after my grandson a few days a week permanently soon whilst my dsughter starts her teaching job. She will be earning enough to pay NI contributions.

I have 36? years of NI contributions so I qualify for the basic state pension under both the old and new system and I've had a state pension forecast recently, but not one since the new system. I was contracted out for a few years and have some SERPS.

Would class 3 contributions add much to my pension under the new system? Without looking at my paperwork I can't remember the figures but I know I got a higher figure under the old system.

Thank you.

jem16

CathA wrote: »

Would class 3 contributions add much to my pension under the new system? Without looking at my paperwork I can't remember the figures but I know I got a higher figure under the old system.

Thank you.

You will be able to gain about £4.44 pw until you reach the maximum of £155 pw so well worth claiming if you're below this maximum which it sounds like you are.

CathA

jem16 wrote: »

You will be able to gain about £4.44 pw until you reach the maximum of £155 pw so well worth claiming if you're below this maximum which it sounds like you are.

Thank you, that's what I thought. Do you know if there is a limitation in the the number of hours you look after grandchildren or if you're paid/not paid for it? Thanks x

jem16

CathA wrote: »

Thank you, that's what I thought. Do you know if there is a limitation in the the number of hours you look after grandchildren or if you're paid/not paid for it? Thanks x

I'm not sure but this should help you.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/237239/specified-adult-childcare-credits.pdf

CathA

jem16 wrote: »

I'm not sure but this should help you.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/237239/specified-adult-childcare-credits.pdf

Hi all you pension experts!

I rang the NI contributions department this morning on another subject and asked about this matter. The girl in the phone thought that this was a recent development and was quite surprised when I told her it started in 2011/12. I had to look up the details so she could investigate this further.

Leaving aside that fact, how can this information be made more widely available to the people that will benefit the most (it's mostly grandmothers who look after the grandchildren and mostly a certain age group that could benefit from the NI contribution transfer) Sorry if that sounds sexist, but that's how it is in my experience, particularly amongst my friends.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

kidmugsy

CathA wrote: »

Sorry if that sounds sexist

If it didn't sound sexist it probably wouldn't be realistic.

greenglide

how can this information be made more widely available to the people that will benefit the most

With extreme difficulty I would think.

Publicity leaflets in Benefit offices / job centres (do they still exist?) / doctors surgeries / libraries etc (all the usual places) clearly dont really work. Because this is actually a very narrow group you couldnt use a mailing or anything like that and citizens advice etc probably wouldnt get to much of this audience.

People generally dont read leaflets and how would you decide what to put on the front to encourage the target audience.

People need to be encouraged to use the benefit calculators DWP has online and to consult citizens advice etc but if you don't know you are entitled why should you?

CathA

greenglide wrote: »

With extreme difficulty I would think.

Publicity leaflets in Benefit offices / job centres (do they still exist?) / doctors surgeries / libraries etc (all the usual places) clearly dont really work. Because this is actually a very narrow group you couldnt use a mailing or anything like that and citizens advice etc probably wouldnt get to much of this audience.

People generally dont read leaflets and how would you decide what to put on the front to encourage the target audience.

People need to be encouraged to use the benefit calculators DWP has online and to consult citizens advice etc but if you don't know you are entitled why should you?

It comes to something when the actual NI contributions staff don't know about it either! I appreciate that a call handler won't know everything, no-one expects that but still, makes you wonder?

greenglide

Does this an HMRC person?

HMRC are in charge of collecting the money and stored details of the contributions but would probably struggle over things like this.

DWP are in charge of awarding and paying benefits, I suspect things like this fall between two (or more) stools.

Maybe if the question is phrased differently they could have found the answer on their help scripts (or maybe not).

It is, unfortunately, what you get with telephone help desks (especially general "help" ones) where the staff are generally not well paid, trained or skilled.

CathA

It was the future pensions helpline I rang to get a state pension forecast under the new system. To be fair, she went off and found the answer to my question and was going to look up the details so she knew what I was talking about.

bigadaj

Might be worth raising with a moderator or the forum team, it could be soemthing to include on one of the weekly emails, that would go out to a few million and cover a fair percentage of the population.