Eligible for HRP NI Credits?

Bruckner

If you were registered for Child Benefit and received it but then later choose not to receive it when the rules about High Income CB Tax Charge came in does this also stop your entitlement to HRP / NI Credits for State Pension from when you stopped claiming? Or are you still eligible to have recevied HRP / NI Credits until child is aged 16? (All assuming no other income/NI contributions from self during all child caring years etc.). 

Can anyone provide supporting links which are clear and unambiguous to confirm?

Thank you.

unforeseen

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge

Took 5 secs. Ain't Google wonderful? 

Bruckner

Thank you. I had seen that. 

I am trying to find some clear reference that states that you are eligible for HRP if you have been registered for CB, and that it is not a condition to have been receiving it.

HMRC have told us "you were not eligible for HRP because you did not receive CB during the period in question". They don't seem to care about having previously been registered and having had CB payments.

Any other links making things clearer would be appreciated.

unforeseen

I understand now. You actually cancelled your claim rather than stop taking the money?
In which case they are correct. You can start a new claim without taking the money and get the credits from the start of your new claim but you can't have credits for the period where you didn't have a claim in force. 

Bruckner

Thanks again.
Why do you say we "cancelled" the claim? I thought we just stopped receiving it, but not sure how or what the process was. 
Do you know how the 2 processes differ, what we would have done?

jem16

Bruckner said:

Thanks again.
Why do you say we "cancelled" the claim? I thought we just stopped receiving it, but not sure how or what the process was. 
Do you know how the 2 processes differ, what we would have done?

It’s possible from the sound of it that you asked to stop your claim for Child Benefit. What you should have requested is that you continue to claim for Child Benefit but not to receive the payments. Probably terminology but very important. 

Another piece of terminology is that HRP ceased in April 2010 and is now called NI Credits. Slightly different system in that NI Credits is only available for children up to age 12 whereas it used to be age 16. 

I would suggest you restart your claim ASAP and elect not to receive payments. You can read more about it on the notes. 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/792055/CH2_Notes_online.pdf

Bruckner

Thanks.
Why would anyone not working knowingly ask to cancel (not just stop getting the payments) CB, if it means you lose rights to NI Credits? How can such a mistake with this consequences be so easy? 
I don't remember the conversation, or if it was a form if that made the distinction clear.

p00hsticks

Bruckner said:

Thanks.
Why would anyone not working knowingly ask to cancel (not just stop getting the payments) CB, if it means you lose rights to NI Credits? How can such a mistake with this consequences be so easy? 
I don't remember the conversation, or if it was a form if that made the distinction clear.

There's now a clear distinction for high earners on the CH2 form for claiming Child benefit about whether they wish to a) not claim any money but carry on getting the NI credits or b) claim the money but potentially have to pay (at least some of) it back later via the tax system. (Question 68 on the CH2 form here https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit/how-to-claim )

I'm not aware of a standard process/form for either cancelling CH completely or continuing the claim but stopping physical payments, and you say you cannot recall what was said / how you cancelled the claim so it;s difficult to say where the confusion arose.