NI Credits

Pampergirl50

I am after some guidance after being given contradictory advice from the future pensions department.
I am due to claim my state pension in April 2024 and need to pay four years NI contributions if I wish to claim the full pension. When checking the gaps in my records, there was a period from 2005 to 2008 when no contributions were made. I was certain that I should have qualified for HRP credits as I was in receipt of child benefit for my daughter who was born in 1996. The lady I spoke to told me this was the case and I needed to forward a claim to HMRC for these years and not to make any payments as I may not need to if the HRP was applied. She also confirmed that I had received HRP from Feb 1996 until March 2001 and could shed no light as to why this had stopped.
I submitted the claim and after two months still hadn't heard. I rang future pensions again and relayed the earlier conversation. This time I was told that the earlier advice was not correct as even if the missing HRP credits were applied it was irrelevant and would not result in my pension being increased. The reason she gave was that pension regulations changed in 2016 and prior to that I had already amassed the maximum number of years....30 at that time....so the top up would make no difference. 35ish years were now needed and my shortfall was post 2016. I actually have 37 years contributions but was contracted out if SERPS hence why I have a shortfall.
Can you please clarify this for me?

molerat

There is some truth in that but other bits seems a bit random, going beyond 30 pre 2016 years will usually not add anything if contracted out. Post up the full details from your forecast, as listed below, and that will give us all the details needed to comment fully.  I assume those 2 years have not been added.

Current weekly £££.pp amount accrued up to April 2022 (or 2023 as some have been updated)
Number of pre 2016 NI years full
Number of post 2016 NI years full
Tax year you reach state retirement
Any COPE amount shown, in a click link in "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme" if there is one.
Years which show not full and prices

Pampergirl50

Thank you. Amount due next year is currently £178.
36 full years pre 2016.
1 year full post 2016.
COPE 52.03

molerat

They are correct in that those years would not make any difference to your pension amount.  If you want to improve it you need to purchase post 2016 years.  Each will add £5.82 up to the maximum.

Pampergirl50

Thank you for clarifying that. That is what the 2nd advisor told me. The first advisor however told me they would make a difference and that is slightly worrying as they are supposed to be the experts! Thanks again for your help.