National Insurance Queries

Fenser21

Hello, 

Hoping someone out there can please help me with a couple of queries that I have. 

Firstly how many contributions are required for a female born in 1948 for the full basic pension? I have two figures both from the HMRC site one states 39 years and the other states it is 30 years now. This is on my age not the new pension.

I have printed off my contributions and there are 2 - 3 years that say no NI contributions were paid, yet I know I was in full time employment and the company is still viable, how can that happen, can it be checked?

Also, I cared for my children between 1967 and 1985 with child benefit and received no NI credits as they said I was a paying married womans stamp but I wasn't working to pay a stamp?

Lastly is there anyway I can be shown when I requested to go to a full stamp? I remember receiving a forming the 1970's and returning it but not when  it was. I have requested this information twice from HMRC to no avail.

Hoping someone can please help me with the above.

Silvertabby

Fenser21 said:

Hello, 

Hoping someone out there can please help me with a couple of queries that I have. 

Firstly how many contributions are required for a female born in 1948 for the full basic pension? I have two figures both from the HMRC site one states 39 years and the other states it is 30 years now. This is on my age not the new pension.

I have printed off my contributions and there are 2 - 3 years that say no NI contributions were paid, yet I know I was in full time employment and the company is still viable, how can that happen, can it be checked?

Also, I cared for my children between 1967 and 1985 with child benefit and received no NI credits as they said I was a paying married womans stamp but I wasn't working to pay a stamp?

Lastly is there anyway I can be shown when I requested to go to a full stamp? I remember receiving a forming the 1970's and returning it but not when  it was. I have requested this information twice from HMRC to no avail.

Hoping someone can please help me with the above.

You would have reached SPA in 2008, when women needed 39 years of NI contributions.  (Reduced to 30 years in 2010, raised to 35 years in 2016).

I believe that women who had opted to pay the married woman's stamp didn't get child benefit NI credits, but I'm sure that someone will pop up to put me right on that if I'm wrong!

You say that you think that you opted to pay the full stamp in the 1970s, but that you didn't work between 1967 and 1985.  Can you clarify ?  Also, which 2-3 years seem to be missing from your records.  If these were pre 1967 then the chances of proving payment are now nil, I'm afraid, unless your old company keeps records way beyond the legal minimum. 

How much pension are you currently receiving?  If it's just gone up to about £90 per week, then that would be 60% of your husband's (old) basic State pension, and would be correct for someone who has always paid the  married woman's stamp. 

molerat

Pre 2010 female retirees needed 39 years.

Paying the married woman's small stamp whilst employed would have excluded you from HRP which started in April 1978.

Any queries need to go to HMRC

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/national-insurance-enquiries-for-employees-and-individuals

Fenser21

Thank you Silvertabby and Molerat for your replies.

The years that I worked but there are no contributions for were; 1977 -1978, 1978-1979, 1979- 1980. 

Regarding the married womans stamp, I am assuming I opted to pay it when I was first married and working. However when I had my children I didn't do any paid work for 12 years but I did receive child benefit (family allowance) HMRC have advised me I only have £1 credit for those 12 years as I was paying the married womans stamp. How could I pay it if I didn't work?  I 100% remember receiving a form about changing to a full stamp as I discussed it with my sister in law  and even though I didn't work at the time opted to change as it had said it would affect any future pension. I am unable to find out from HMRC when I returned this form.

I actually have 30 full years contributions so receive more than £90.

Thank you Molerat for the link.

jem16

Fenser21 said:

Thank you Silvertabby and Molerat for your replies.


Regarding the married womans stamp, I am assuming I opted to pay it when I was first married and working. However when I had my children I didn't do any paid work for 12 years but I did receive child benefit (family allowance) HMRC have advised me I only have £1 credit for those 12 years as I was paying the married womans stamp. How could I pay it if I didn't work?  I 100% remember receiving a form about changing to a full stamp as I discussed it with my sister in law  and even though I didn't work at the time opted to change as it had said it would affect any future pension. I am unable to find out from HMRC when I returned this form.

If you were still down as electing to pay the Married Woman's small stamp it would have precluded you from getting NI credits whether you were actually working or not.

Also HRP ( NI credits) did not start until April 1978.

Marcon

Fenser21 said:

Thank you Silvertabby and Molerat for your replies.

The years that I worked but there are no contributions for were; 1977 -1978, 1978-1979, 1979- 1980. 

Regarding the married womans stamp, I am assuming I opted to pay it when I was first married and working. However when I had my children I didn't do any paid work for 12 years but I did receive child benefit (family allowance) HMRC have advised me I only have £1 credit for those 12 years as I was paying the married womans stamp. How could I pay it if I didn't work?  I 100% remember receiving a form about changing to a full stamp as I discussed it with my sister in law  and even though I didn't work at the time opted to change as it had said it would affect any future pension. I am unable to find out from HMRC when I returned this form.

I actually have 30 full years contributions so receive more than £90.

Thank you Molerat for the link.

Try this (ask for the whole of you working life!): https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/shortforms/form/DPU_SAR_NI?_ga=2.230026460.1544670040.1621021753-1315656139.1609178084

It should show your employer for the years 1977-1980, but I'm a bit confused as you've said:

Fenser21 said:

I have printed off my contributions and there are 2 - 3 years that say no NI contributions were paid, yet I know I was in full time employment and the company is still viable, how can that happen, can it be checked?

Also, I cared for my children between 1967 and 1985 with child benefit and received no NI credits as they said I was a paying married womans stamp but I wasn't working to pay a stamp?

Please could you clarify the dates when were you were working? Also - were you in any sort of company pension scheme and if so, do you have any idea of your dates of membership?
 

Fenser21

Hi Marcon, 

Sorry for confusion. I returned to work for the first time in 1978 I am unable to remember exact dates but I know I worked for 2 years as I was made redundant in February 1980 just days before the 2years required to receive a redundancy payment. I wasn't aware of any pension scheme. My NI record states no contributions for the years I mentioned.

I didn't do any work after that until the 1980's when I paid a full stamp.

I am hoping to get a copy of form/letter that I returned showing when I agreed to change from married womans stamp to a full stamp. I have requested it twice but not getting anything.