NI credits have been awarded when not working or claiming unemployment benefits?

AskAsk

as i said, there is an error on my NI record for 3 years as well, which i hope won't get spotted!  i have no idea how i managed to get those either so i do think some errors do get made and you get attributed someone else's NI contributions?  but as they are made in her favour, i wouldn't worry about it and just hope no one spots it 

p00hsticks

AskAsk said:

as i said, there is an error on my NI record for 3 years as well, which i hope won't get spotted!  i have no idea how i managed to get those either so i do think some errors do get made and you get attributed someone else's NI contributions?  but as they are made in her favour, i wouldn't worry about it and just hope no one spots it 

Yours isn't an error though - up until 2010, people were automatically creditted with NI for the years they turned 16, 17, and 18. This was so as not to penalise those who decided to stay at school rather than leave and start work at 16, in the days when a man needed 44 years NI to get a full basic state pension at age 65 (women needed 39 years before they turned 60). The automatic credits were dropped in April 2010 when the requirement was dropped to 30 years and it was therfore less problematic if people missed a few years NI contributions.

It doesn't explain the OP's credits though. .

AskAsk

p00hsticks said:

AskAsk said:

as i said, there is an error on my NI record for 3 years as well, which i hope won't get spotted!  i have no idea how i managed to get those either so i do think some errors do get made and you get attributed someone else's NI contributions?  but as they are made in her favour, i wouldn't worry about it and just hope no one spots it 

Yours isn't an error though - up until 2010, people were automatically creditted with NI for the years they turned 16, 17, and 18. This was so as not to penalise those who decided to stay at school rather than leave and start work at 16, in the days when a man needed 44 years NI to get a full basic state pension at age 65 (women needed 39 years before they turned 60). The automatic credits were dropped in April 2010 when the requirement was dropped to 30 years and it was therfore less problematic if people missed a few years NI contributions.

It doesn't explain the OP's credits though. .

are you sure?  that would explain it then as i know i have a bad memory but it can't be that bad that i can't remember working!  that is good to know as i do worry someone will find out sooner or later 

p00hsticks

AskAsk said:

p00hsticks said:

AskAsk said:

as i said, there is an error on my NI record for 3 years as well, which i hope won't get spotted!  i have no idea how i managed to get those either so i do think some errors do get made and you get attributed someone else's NI contributions?  but as they are made in her favour, i wouldn't worry about it and just hope no one spots it 

Yours isn't an error though - up until 2010, people were automatically creditted with NI for the years they turned 16, 17, and 18. This was so as not to penalise those who decided to stay at school rather than leave and start work at 16, in the days when a man needed 44 years NI to get a full basic state pension at age 65 (women needed 39 years before they turned 60). The automatic credits were dropped in April 2010 when the requirement was dropped to 30 years and it was therfore less problematic if people missed a few years NI contributions.

It doesn't explain the OP's credits though. .

are you sure?  that would explain it then as i know i have a bad memory but it can't be that bad that i can't remember working!  that is good to know as i do worry someone will find out sooner or later 

Absolutely sure. I can't find the direct link to the relevant rule now (I used to have it) but its mentioned on this Pension Advisory Service page

https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/about-pensions/the-state-pension/ni-credits 

Edit: I've now found the official gov.uk reference here - see paragraph 25

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209123/national-insurance-single-tier-note.pdf

Note that although it says that the credits were only given to those remaining in full time education, I think for simplicity they were actually awarded to everyone in blanket fashion , even if you weren't actually in the country at the time.