NI Contributions Query

john1001

Hi all,

I'll try to keep this brief, just after a bit of advice.

My partner has suffered from significant mental health issues in the recent past and is not capable of work - the mental health issues are diagnosed but not the incapacity.

Because I have a relatively high income, she is not entitled to any benefits, which is fine, but I want to start paying her NI contributions. She has had a sporadic employment history, with only 12 years contributions at the age of 42 (though I'll bring this up to 14 before April), which are a mix of self-employed and PAYE contributions.

My question is whether it is a) worthwhile and b) legal for her to register as self-employed for this purpose?

She intends to start a home business at some point in the future making jewellery and selling it online - she is learning her craft at the moment (a real step forward let me tell you!!). It may or may not become a trading / profitable business, but is it okay for her to register now, even though it is possibly more than a year away before she starts selling anything?

Appreciate any advice.

Thanks

Silvertabby

Is it still possible to 'sign on' just for NI credits?

Mr S and I did this when we retired from the RAF. We didn't want to rush into other jobs, but were advised to 'sign on' just to get NI credits (this was back in the days when he needed 44 full years and I needed 39, so losing a year could have made a difference).

john1001

Silvertabby wrote: »

Is it still possible to 'sign on' just for NI credits?

Mr S and I did this when we retired from the RAF. We didn't want to rush into other jobs, but were advised to 'sign on' just to get NI credits (this was back in the days when he needed 44 full years and I needed 39, so losing a year could have made a difference).

Ah thank you, that might be an option in the future, but for now leaving the house is really only possible if I'm with her, and that won't always be the case as I have to travel a bit to London for my job.