Women's Pension who to contact???

moser1878

I had 4 children, the 1st born in 1977, the 2nd in 1980, the 3rd in 1989, the 4th in 1990. I also, had some part-time work during this period. My Gov. Gateway account shows "no contribution" for several of those years for National Insurance, however, I was in receipt of Child Benefit. I received State Pension in 2008. I am not in receipt of a full State Pension because my NI contributions have not recorded the years I looked after my children.  I spent 40 min. getting through to HMRC, who told me I was getting "married woman's allowance" in those years, but I was divorced in 1979 (my child born shortly after). Then, I did not remarry until 1987, but my husband was studying with no income. HMRC told me to phone DWP, another 45mins before I got an answer, which was that I should be listed with HMRC as "Home Responsibility Protection" from 1978 through to 1990 at least.  I phone HMRC (another 35mins to get through) and I'm told its nothing to do with them, I must get back to DWP.  So, I take another 40mins of my day to get through to DWP, who tell me to phone HMRC as my State Pension is based on HMRC's calculations.  I do as bid, and take 1hr. 5min. to get through to someone, who tells me that they have no records of me ever being paid Child Benefit, and says he is not an expert on this but suggests I phone Child Benefit. Or, he says I could write a letter in but it'll probably take over a 1 year to get an answer. I say that as he is not an expert, could he put me through to someone who is, but he says he can't do that as he works from home.  Having nothing better to do this millennium, I phone Child Benefit, but the entire procedure goes back round the roundabout.  Has anyone, got any suggestions?  

molerat

As you retired before 2010 you were not awarded NI credits for child benefit, there is nothing to show on your NI record.  Instead the number of years required for a full pension was reduced by the number of HRP years.  You have 28 years where you should have been receiving child benefit and HRP.  The maximum number of HRP years useable is 22 so you should be getting a pension of £156.18 / (39-22) X the number of full NI years held.  So How many full years does your record show and how much pension are you receiving ?

If you were one of those that did not provide an NI number when applying for child benefit, that was possible pre 2000, then it is probable that there are currently no records to support a claim, child benefit records were destroyed 5 years after a claim ended. HMRC / DWP are currently conducting a record matching exercise to identify those people and it is a case of "don't call us" as nothing can be done until the process is completed. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-responsibilities-protection-and-state-pension-entitlement/home-responsibilities-protection-correction-of-national-insurance-records-and-state-pension-entitlement

but

https://www.radiotimesmoney.com/news/mothers-could-be-owed-6000-in-pensions-if-theres-a-gap-in-their-ni-record-says-paul-lewis/

maman

Couldn't read and run after hearing how much time you'd wasted just hanging on the phone. ☹️

I paid the Married Woman's stamp as it was known back then. It was more or less automatic and no advice given as to the long term effect of receiving a reduced State Pension.

Like you, I was subsequently divorced and then IIRC automatically went back to full NI contributions. 

So while I can't answer your questions, I would hope that you only paid the reduced rate for a short time so it hasn't affected your pension too much. 

Good luck with getting the allowance for child rearing years. It seems crazy that there are no records for Child Benefit for 4 children! I didn't qualify for that as my children are a bit older.

🤞someone will be along soon with some advice. 

xylophone

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/new-state-pension-error-impacting-mothers-have-you-been-underpaid-a1Q1u9e5ofii


You will recently have received a statement of increase in benefits.

What exactly does it show at Basic State Pension?

moser1878

For tax year 2023 to 2024 my Basic State Pension was £153.51, and for 2024 to 2025 DWP cite it as £157.64.

badmemory

Those figures don't look right as the increase is only 2.7%

moser1878

xylophone said:

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/new-state-pension-error-impacting-mothers-have-you-been-underpaid-a1Q1u9e5ofii


You will recently have received a statement of increase in benefits.

What exactly does it show at Basic State Pension?

Sorry, everyone, I can't find the correct way to respond to your advice on the site.  I wrote a response to molerat but I can't see it now.
How do I use the site to respond?
For tax year 2023 to 2024 my Basic State Pension was £153.51, and for 2024 to 2025 DWP cite it as £157.64. 

moser1878

HMRC's Gateway sites me as having 26 years of full contributions and 16 years when I did not contribute enough (although the "not enough" years, include years they also cite as "no contributions". 

badmemory

moser1878 said:

xylophone said:

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/new-state-pension-error-impacting-mothers-have-you-been-underpaid-a1Q1u9e5ofii


You will recently have received a statement of increase in benefits.

What exactly does it show at Basic State Pension?

Sorry, everyone, I can't find the correct way to respond to your advice on the site.  I wrote a response to molerat but I can't see it now.
How do I use the site to respond?
For tax year 2023 to 2024 my Basic State Pension was £153.51, and for 2024 to 2025 DWP cite it as £157.64. 

Just go to post comment below or quote the poster (at the foot of their post) if you feel it is necessary.  I cannot see why the increase is only 2.7% if an increase in the pension or only £4.31 a week if an increase in your basic entitlement.

Have you bookmarked your thread - if not go to the top of the page & on the far right of your title there is an empty box which you should click on & it will fill.  Then when you come on look for bookmarked threads via quick links.  You can do this with any thread you are interested in reading.

molerat

If that is the "basic pension" amount shown on the increase letter, not the full pension amount received, then you are getting more than 26 years worth, that would be £104.12 (2023), so there must be some element of HRP in the calculation.  HRP would not show on your NI record as it did not work that way pre 2010.

moser1878

molerat said:

As you retired before 2010 you were not awarded NI credits for child benefit, there is nothing to show on your NI record.  Instead the number of years required for a full pension was reduced by the number of HRP years.  You have 28 years where you should have been receiving child benefit and HRP.  The maximum number of HRP years useable is 22 so you should be getting a pension of £156.18 / (39-22) X the number of full NI years held.  So How many full years does your record show and how much pension are you receiving ?

If you were one of those that did not provide an NI number when applying for child benefit, that was possible pre 2000, then it is probable that there are currently no records to support a claim, child benefit records were destroyed 5 years after a claim ended. HMRC / DWP are currently conducting a record matching exercise to identify those people and it is a case of "don't call us" as nothing can be done until the process is completed. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-responsibilities-protection-and-state-pension-entitlement/home-responsibilities-protection-correction-of-national-insurance-records-and-state-pension-entitlement

but

https://www.radiotimesmoney.com/news/mothers-could-be-owed-6000-in-pensions-if-theres-a-gap-in-their-ni-record-says-paul-lewis/

Thank you for your advice, and for the helpful links.  It appears either it could be several years before HMRC are able to address this for everyone. 

For year 2023 to 2024, my Basic State Pension was £153.51, and for 2024 to 2025 DWP state I will get a Basic State Pension of £157.64.

HMRC cite that I have 26 years of full contribution and 16 years of insufficient contribution.