MSE News: Grandparents who help with childcare risk missing out on full state pension

Legacy_user

Thousands of grandparents who've given up work to look after their grandchildren could be missing out on a pension boost...

Read the full story:
'Grandparents who help with childcare at risk of missing out on full state pension - act NOW to protect it'

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Gers

*cough*

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5587902

jamesd

Both of the years claim in this para are myths that MSE should be debunking, not perpetuating. The false information about 35 years is particularly bad because it could cause people who have 35 years already not to claim and increase their state pension.

"If you retired before April 2016, you need 30 qualifying working years to get the full state pension. If you retired or will retire after April 2016, that's raised to 35 years"

If you reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 it took 30 qualifying years to get the maximum Basic State Pension, so check that your record has that many because if not you may be able to get more by claiming for those years if they don't yet count. Check even if your state pension is at or above the highest BSP level.

If you reach state pension age from 6 April 2016 the number of years needed is however many it takes to get your pension to the flat rate cap of £155.65. It will usually be less than 35 years for people who did not contract out much and more for those who did. Check your entitlement and get any credits you can if yours isn't that high yet. If it is already at least £155.65, check how many years you had before 6 April 2016 and if it is not at least 30 credits for those years credits could still get you an increase.

jdamina

The eligibility criteria in the article states "The child's parent (or main carer) is entitled to child benefit and has a qualifying NI year meaning he or she doesn't need the NI credit you receive automatically with child benefit."


How does it work if the parents are entitled to but are currently 'opting out' of child benefits due to one parent being a higher earner?


Is it simply the fact that they are entitled to child benefits that would allow the grandparent to claim NI contributions or do the parents need to actually be receiving child benefit payment for the grandparent to claim?

molerat

jdamina wrote: »

.........................
Is it simply the fact that they are entitled to child benefits that would allow the grandparent to claim NI contributions ...............

Yes. If the parent were not working they could still claim to get the NI credits even though they would not receive the child benefit.

Ithilien

How does this work if the parents don't get child benefit because one of them earns over £60K? Is the grandparent still eligible?

p00hsticks

Ithilien wrote: »

How does this work if the parents don't get child benefit because one of them earns over £60K? Is the grandparent still eligible?

This question has been asked before (post 4) and according to molerat in the post 5 they would indeed be eligible.

Details on how to apply and a helpline number to double check can be found here

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-insurance-credits-for-adults-who-care-for-a-child-under-12-fact-sheet/specified-adult-childcare-credits-fact-sheet