"Ensure the Parent checks their NI Contributions"

JImBob969696

I have recently completed the HMRC form CA9176 to transfer NI credits to myself as I look after my granddaughter and have missing years in my NI contributions. The process guidance notes say "Ensure the Parent checks their NI Contributions" (or similar) before applying. But I can't find any info. on what the parent should be looking for. I'm am not expecting her to see flashing red print saying "You have Class 3 credits eligible for transfer" but it would be good to know what she should look for.  Or (as she has done) does she assume that as she has full years from her employment and is registered for Child benefit, that the years are available and all should be well? 

Marcon

JImBob969696 said:

I have recently completed the HMRC form CA9176 to transfer NI credits to myself as I look after my granddaughter and have missing years in my NI contributions. The process guidance notes say "Ensure the Parent checks their NI Contributions" (or similar) before applying. But I can't find any info. on what the parent should be looking for. I'm am not expecting her to see flashing red print saying "You have Class 3 credits eligible for transfer" but it would be good to know what she should look for.  Or (as she has done) does she assume that as she has full years from her employment and is registered for Child benefit, that the years are available and all should be well? 

'Assuming' is never a great option, however tempting.

Sounds as if she might not have actually checked her NI history: https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

That will tell her which years are 'full' in terms of her own record, and whether she can 'afford' to transfer NI credits to you.

relishy57

As I understand it the delay until October of the following tax year for them to process the forms enables NI to check that the parent has a full year and if for any reason they haven’t got this the credits will not be re-allocated to the carer. 

With the 35 plus week delay in processing forms at the moment expect a lengthy wait. 

FIREmenow

@JImBob969696 I have NI credits from receiving child benefit and working at the same time. A full year on my NI record using the link from Marcon above looks like this:

2022 to 2023
Full year
View 2022 to 2023 Details

You have contributions from
Paid employment: £x
National Insurance credits: 52 weeks
These may have been added to your record if you were ill/disabled, unemployed, caring for someone full-time or on jury service.

So if your daughter is the one who receives child benefit, she needs to check for each year she is transferring the NI credits to you, whether she has made enough £ contributions from her paid work to still get a full NI year without the credits. 

Another factor might be how many missing years your granddaughter's other parent has and whether this changes the situation, as some credits can could be transferred to them.

JImBob969696

Yes, I watched her check her NI record and she has full credits from paid employment for the relevant dates. Her record looks as per your example above. Thanks for posting this. I was kind of expecting to see explicit Class 3 credits for Child Benefit but they seem to be implied for those working and claiming Child Benefit rather than shown on the record. I will start the long wait!!! 

JImBob969696

Just to let you know. I have been successful in my application and now have 3 more full years of NI contributions.  Thanks to all who commented and thanks to Martin (MSE) and Dan my Financial Adviser. NM.