When I didn't know about Child Benefit

jennlyle

Hello folks!

I am trying to sort out gaps in my National Insurance.  These gaps have to do with when I became a mom.

I am not from the UK (I'm American) and I simply didn't know better, regarding Child Benefit.  Therefore, I didn't apply for Child Benefit until my son was 3 years old & my daughter who was 1 year old.  And I remember how disappointed I was that Child Benefit would be backdated for only 3 months.

Now this also affects gaps in my National Insurance.  I phoned into both HMRC and Child Benefits to try to sort out filling those National Insurance gaps, but they were unable to help me.

And as a last resort before I write to my MP about this issue-- I want to be sure that there is no other way that I can get credit for those gaps.

It just seems really unfair to have to... some 8 years later... pay some £824/yr to fill each year that there's a gap... when I simply didn't know about Child Benefits, certainly wasn't benefiting from it.  And where I was doing the very same work as other mums, but without knowing about Child Benefits, in order to completely fill in my National Insurance gaps .... on the surface, it appears I might be SOL.

Does anyone have any additional suggestions there?

Thank you in advance for your time and insights!

badmemory

Will you be likely to need those 3 years by the time you get to state pension age.  Have you checked your record so far?

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-simplification-update-january-2024/tax-simplification-update-january-2024#amending-the-parents-national-insurance-credit-child-benefit

So hopefully you should be able to sort it from 2026.

The big question is do you actually need those years ?

What does your forecast currently show ?

Current weekly £££.pp amount accrued up to April 2023 or 2024, some have been updated so please specify.
Number of pre April 2016 NI years full
Number of post April 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

jennlyle

Current Forecast:

- Current weekly £££.pp amount accrued up to April 2023/24... I might need some clarification on that.  Where do I find that information?

- Number of pre April 2016 years vs post April 2016 years ... my gap ranges from 2010 to 2014.

- I reach retirement in 2041.

- I've heard a little bit about COPE, but I am unsure where to look for that?

I so appreciate your help @molerat.

molerat

All that information is available in your pension forecast and NI record.

jennlyle

Thank you @molerat

- I am guessing that what you mean by Current Weekly would be what I am forecasted to be paid weekly from NI when I retire?  I'm showing £200.95/wk.

- On my forecast,  ( gov.uk > check your state pension > account ) I'm not showing any links for COPE nor any "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme" links.  Am I looking in the right place?

Appreciate you so much!

molerat

I am guessing that what you mean by Current Weekly would be what I am forecasted to be paid weekly from NI when I retire?  I'm showing £200.95/wk.

Not the top box amount but the one in the example "Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2021"

nor any "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme"

That would be below what is in that example.  If there is no mention of contracting out then it is unlikely you were.

jennlyle

As a follow on @molerat -- not to drip feed info... I'm just trying to learn while protecting myself and my kids ...

I do see something on the website that says, "The most you can increase your forecast to is"  ... £221.30 / wk

jennlyle

@molerat you are an angel for doing the deep dive here and helping me! 

"Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2021" reads as £99.83 a week.

And yes, I don't think COPE applies to me.

molerat

Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2021" reads as £99.83 a week.

2023 or 2024 ?

We also need to be talking in tax years (19-20 etc) not single calendar years (2014 etc) as it makes a lot of difference - as in is your retirement date 2040-41 or 2041-42 ?

It would seem that the new legislation will only backdate child NI credits to the 2013-14 tax year as that is when the income related child benefit cap was introduced which stopped many from claiming unaware of the consequences.  Unfortunately it looks like years prior to that are a lost cause and I doubt you would get anywhere trying to claim them, I think you will have to put that one down to experience.

The top line of £200.95 means with filling every year going forward you will be 4 years short of the max but with the ability to fill them.  The problem is that you only have until April 2025 to fill those gaps and the new legislation will not come in until 2026.  You can gamble on being able to fill the gap (1 or 2?) 13-14 onwards and pay the others.  The 4th year will only add £1.29 to the pension so is likely not worth paying for.