Only 10 years of NIC's?

sparky0138

My mum filled in form CF411 and has now had a response. It confirms that HRP is already recorded on her NI account for the tax years April 1979 to April 1994. Well, I believe that's incorrect because 1993-1994 on her online record states there were contributions from paid employment of £69.38 and voluntary of 4 weeks. She'll be asking them to look at this year again because surely it should say National Insurance credits: 52 weeks like the previous years if HRP had been recorded.

As for the final year 1994-1995, it says she's not entitled to that year. I can only assume it's because I turned 16 in the March (previously calculated that wrong!), so although she was still receiving child benefit for the full tax year, I wasn't under 16 for that full year.

The letter also says the following: To qualify for HRP your earnings had to be below the level required in a tax year for entitlement to State Pension. Also, you had to have met at least one of the qualifying conditions for the whole of the tax year. When HRP is included on your NI account, all years of entitlement are included whether or not they can be used for your state pension.

If she was 4 weeks short in 1994-1995, wouldn't that automatically make her below the earnings level and therefore eligible? If she'd earned enough and paid a full year's NIC's through her earnings, I can understand why HRP is then made redundant but not if she's short. Can anyone confirm this please?

Also, what does the last sentence in bold mean please?

molerat

Does it really matter how 93-94 was filled as long as it is full ?  She is not going to get those 4 weeks of VC back now even if it was incorrect.  94-95 is a lost cause as you reached 16 in that tax year so not entitled to HRP credits and no contributions were made so it looks like her record is as good as it is going to get..

sparky0138

Well, she'll be two years short of a full state pension so if there's any chance she can improve on that, even if it's just by a year, then surely it's worth a shot. I know it's a very slim chance considering who we're dealing with here but if 93-94 had been credited properly due to HRP in the first place (if she was indeed entitled), she wouldn't have made that particular year count by making a voluntary contribution. So maybe there's a very tiny, tiny chance that year which she made made count, can be "swapped" for another year? I don't even know if they do that. I doubt it but worth a try, I think.

molerat

You cannot swap credits or contributions between years so even if she does get 52 weeks credit added for that year it will have no effect on the amount of years she has, she would have 52 weeks credits, £69.38 paid employment and 4 weeks voluntary - all still meaning that year is full.

t0rt0ise

One final thing. She needs to make sure she pays for the final year before she starts receiving her pension as they only pay the extra from the date the voluntary contribution is paid. I am the same as your mother but a year ahead and my NI for last year and the amount to pay hasn't appeared on my account yet. So I used the HMRC chat thing yesterday and the guy told me how much I needed to pay and how to do so. He gave me the reference to use. I've now paid so I'm safe. I had to pay £420 so well worth it.

sparky0138

molerat said:

Does it really matter how 93-94 was filled as long as it is full ?  She is not going to get those 4 weeks of VC back now even if it was incorrect.  

Just a quick update to say that 93-94 has now been credited with a full 52 weeks and they didn't swap her any years but she did actually get those 4 weeks of VC back and received a cheque for a massive £21.80! 🥳

molerat

Shocked by that refund.  They have been refunding unnecessary pre 2016 contributions made post 2016 caused by the confusing statements in the NI history on the pension forecast but going back that far is incredible !