Problems with Universal Credit awarding National Insurance Credits

Spoonie_Turtle

NedS said:

Muttleythefrog said:

My partner isn't getting her class 3 credits added (and have again just checked) and we have mentioned this to U/C who gave us a response (below, at end of December). I'm getting my credits but possibly because I also get Contribution based ESA.

You should be able to check if you are getting yours. If you look back at each previous  year, it will tell you how many weeks credits you've received in that year - if you are getting credits for both ESA and UC, it should show 104 weeks credits. If you are only getting credits from ESA and not UC, it will only show 52 weeks credits. Assuming you've claimed benefits for all 52 weeks of the year.

I don't think the issue affects everyone, but trying to get firm information out of DWP on the issue is not easy.

That is an excellent point.

… oh dear, did MSE crash the site?!

Image description: screenshot of the gov.uk site to check NI record saying "Sorry, there is a problem with the service

This might be caused by a high number of people trying to use this service at the moment. Try again later."

Muttleythefrog

MSE_Amalia said:

calcotti said:

Saying they are taking measures doesn’t mean they completed a fix. I think they are still working on it.

You're right - except  Guy Opperman confirmed in December 2022 that this automatic system would be “fully operational” by January 2023. So this is what we're holding them to, their own statement. 

I know one of his constituents who knows him personally very well.... to save myself a ban I'll just say they would not rely on much he says.

Muttleythefrog

NedS said:

Muttleythefrog said:

My partner isn't getting her class 3 credits added (and have again just checked) and we have mentioned this to U/C who gave us a response (below, at end of December). I'm getting my credits but possibly because I also get Contribution based ESA.

You should be able to check if you are getting yours. If you look back at each previous  year, it will tell you how many weeks credits you've received in that year - if you are getting credits for both ESA and UC, it should show 104 weeks credits. If you are only getting credits from ESA and not UC, it will only show 52 weeks credits. Assuming you've claimed benefits for all 52 weeks of the year.

I don't think the issue affects everyone, but trying to get firm information out of DWP on the issue is not easy.

Oh interesting thanks....

I have just checked and all recent years show 52 (or 53!) weeks' contributions so it appears mine from U/C also not registering. 

NedS

Muttleythefrog said:

NedS said:

Muttleythefrog said:

My partner isn't getting her class 3 credits added (and have again just checked) and we have mentioned this to U/C who gave us a response (below, at end of December). I'm getting my credits but possibly because I also get Contribution based ESA.

You should be able to check if you are getting yours. If you look back at each previous  year, it will tell you how many weeks credits you've received in that year - if you are getting credits for both ESA and UC, it should show 104 weeks credits. If you are only getting credits from ESA and not UC, it will only show 52 weeks credits. Assuming you've claimed benefits for all 52 weeks of the year.

I don't think the issue affects everyone, but trying to get firm information out of DWP on the issue is not easy.

Oh interesting thanks....

I have just checked and all recent years show 52 (or 53!) weeks' contributions so it appears mine from U/C also not registering. 

It would look that way, assuming claiming both ESA and UC would create two credits - I know previously when I claimed JSA and Carers Allowance at the same time, I received duplicate credits for those weeks so I'm assuming it would be the same for ESA and UC.

Spoonie_Turtle

Got onto the page to check mine and nope, nothing from UC.

[That said, all the Full Years before claiming UC in which I was working say 'You did not make any contributions this year' which is bizarre, wrong, and simply not possible to have a full year without credits or contribitions.  What a strange glitch.]

poppy12345

Was curious about this because my daughter claims UC and has since Jan 2021, so i checked her NI records. Very surprised after hearing everyones problems that her NI contributions are 12 weeks for year 2020/21 (not sure if that's correct)  and full year for 2021/22.

calcotti

poppy12345 said:

Was curious about this because my daughter claims UC and has since Jan 2021, so i checked her NI records. Very surprised after hearing everyones problems that her NI contributions are 12 weeks for year 2020/21 (not sure if that's correct)  and full year for 2021/22.

If her claim started innJanuary 2021 then 12 weeks of NI for 2020/21 sounds correct given that the tax year ends on 5th April (depending exactly when in January she claimed).

vupeso

Can someone advise as what to do? UC is not applying my Class 3 credits, I’ve contacted them couple of times in written and they keep on saying to contact HMRC. The HMRC and Gov’s rules say that Class 3 credits should be applied automatically but when I check my pension contribution years/weeks there’s nothing. HMRC says to contact DWP/UC which I did, then they throw me back to HMRC. Nothing being done. Playing ping-pong with me. I am in receipt of LWCRA and due to my longstanding and progressive disability cannot work and eversince I was moved to UC from legacy benefits (Child Tax Credits) to Universal Credit  my pension credits literally stopped. 

NedS

vupeso said:

Can someone advise as what to do? UC is not applying my Class 3 credits, I’ve contacted them couple of times in written and they keep on saying to contact HMRC. The HMRC and Gov’s rules say that Class 3 credits should be applied automatically but when I check my pension contribution years/weeks there’s nothing. HMRC says to contact DWP/UC which I did, then they throw me back to HMRC. Nothing being done. Playing ping-pong with me. I am in receipt of LWCRA and due to my longstanding and progressive disability cannot work and eversince I was moved to UC from legacy benefits (Child Tax Credits) to Universal Credit  my pension credits literally stopped. 

It is absolutely DWP that need to resolve this. DWP notify HMRC that you are entitled to the credit, and HMRC award the credit based on the information received from DWP. HMRC will only credit what DWP tells them you are entitled to, so you need to pursue this with DWP. Once DWP fix it their end, HMRC will be notified and will automatically award the credit.

This has been an ongoing issue for a very long time. DWP did a large piece of urgent manual work back in early 2024 to ensure affected claims were manually updated, but it sounds like it's maybe still an ongoing issue.

When did you migrate to UC?

Which tax years are showing as absent on your HMRC online account?

Please don't worry - you are entitled to NI credits for any periods where you have a UC claim in payment, and these years will be credited before you reach State Pension age. If you are within 6 months of State Pension age, you should notify DWP of that and maybe get your MP involved to ensure immediate resolution before claiming your state pension. I would recommend downloading or printing out copies of any UC statements for periods where NI credits are missing, just in case you ever need to prove you were in receipt of UC (more for your own peace of mind as DWP should always have records)

Dotinspace

I have a similar issue were class 3 credits were not applied correctly. When I was checking what voluntary contribution I would need to pay on self employed tex for 2023-24 tax year, HMRC advised that some credits were applied, but I am missing something like 8 weeks of credits. When I checked with UC (where the credits should be attributed from) they pushed back hard. Like vupeso, the told me HMRC or the future pensions centre need to sort it out. and the same ping pong ensued until DWP said I do not need to worry about it if I am not 4 months before pension age. I do not exactly trust that I will automatically notified if this has been correct (if ever). It might seem like a small thing, but it means the cost of voluntary contributions for that tax year becomes even more out of reach.