Transferring child benefit NI credit

sjwk

I've seen a few threads about this, but mostly from a few years ago and not sure if things have changed more recently on how they process these?

Typical story - I set up child benefit in my name as I was the one paying NI.  After a year I changed it (or so I thought) to my partner, but it appears I only changed the bank account that it paid to my partners, not changing the benefit itself. 

As such she's missed out on the NI credit that would have gone to her for the past 6 years since our child was born (I didn't actually know that NI credit from child benefit was a thing until recently - I think but can't be sure after so long that I called them to ask about changing the benefit recipient, if I did then noone mentioned the NI credit as a reason to change recipient rather than just the bank account)

Anyway, I see there's a transfer form to reallocate the NI credit from me to her, but that it indicates that a good reason needs to be provided for transferring more than the most recent year.  But I've also seen posts here and elsewhere from people in much the same position as me who were able to transfer more than a single year's credit.

Is there any advice on how to complete the form and provide sufficient reason or information to more likely get multiple years transferred?  Has anyone requested multiple years and had it turned down?  

Thanks for any guidance

sheramber

State you meet these requirements

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5da7019eed915d429c03ba37/CF411A.pdf

 If the time limit has passed still complete the application form giving the reason why you did not apply on time. If the circumstances are reasonable HMRC can still award the credits as long as you meet the transfer conditions. These are:
• you reach State Pension age after the relevant period
• the person registered for Child Benefit cannot get credits because their earnings were equal to or above the qualifying earnings factor for that year
• you were living with the person who was registered for Child Benefit for the relevant period and you were sharing the care for a child under the age of 12
• you would have been able to register for Child Benefit if your spouse, partner or civil partner had not registered for it 

sjwk

Thanks - yes, I'd seen that.  We meet the rest of the requirements but the question was more about the phrase '... giving the reason why you did not apply on time. If the circumstances are reasonable ...'.  Do they actually ask, or generally approve the transfer for more than one year (as I've seen several people here say they have received).  If they do ask, then does anyone have any guidance on what constitutes a reasonable circumstance?

Obviously I don't want to just make stuff up.  But I don't want my partner to miss out on NI credit that she would be entitled to had we known that it was available (I know ignorance is no excuse!) by not giving sufficient information or not including things that they'd consider a reasonable circumstance.

Thanks!

sheramber

I would  try 

( Remeber, it is your wife who is claiming.)

"Child Benefit was set up in my husband's name as we thought he should claim it as he paid NIC.

I now realise it could have been in my name and since  my husband could not benefit  from the credits during these year I now wish to claim the transfer of the   child benefit credits to my name."

Is the claim now in your wife's name?

JoMo_FoMo

Hi, were you successful in getting the NI transferred? And for more than 1 year?

I'm going through the same form now and also wondering what to put as the reason for transfer request. I have an NI gap of 6 years because we didn't know the NI could be transferred.

Thanks