What counts as a "government-approved training course"?

Iamclueless

Don't know if anyone can answer this, but worth a try...

I've read that you can claim NI credits if "You’re over 18 and on a government-approved training course that lasts no longer than 1 year but you were not sent by Jobcentre Plus". I have a partial year that I was about to top-up with voluntary contributions, but I realised that was the year that I did an HNC at a local college, which lasted from August-May. Would that count as an approved training course?

If I top-up that year now so that I don't miss the April deadline, but then get credits for that course, can my voluntary contributions be refunded or re-allocated to a different year?  (I can apply for them anyway, but no chance of getting an answer in time!)

I'm loath to spend hundreds of pounds topping up a year that I might get free credits for, but I don't want to risk *not* topping up and then getting refused credits, and having to buy a more expensive year later.

TIA

QrizB

Do you even need to top up?

What does your state pension forecast say, how old are you now and do you expect to work (or obtain NI credits) continuously until state pension age?

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/national-insurance-manual/nim41220

Nothing more specific so you need to write as per the instructions on the page.  Other musings on the subject come up with no definite answer outside of "go for it" as there is nothing to lose.

Getting a refund if you pay is a whole different matter.

How much is that part year, which year is it  and do you actually need it ?

Iamclueless

Hi, thanks for the quick responses.

I'm about to turn 58, and I need 8 years to reach the maximum - so strictly speaking I don't need it, but atm it is unlikely I will get enough credits going forward without at least some voluntary contributions, so I thought it would make sense to get a couple of the cheaper years while they're still available.

The year in question is 2006/07, and the price to top up is £570.60 (and yes, I have checked a pre-2016 year will definitely increase my pension )

I guess I was hoping there might be someone who has tried it before and got a definite yes or no.  And I'm really annoyed at myself that I didn't pick up on the possibility sooner; I was too focussed on the prices and setting money aside until I had enough saved that I didn't realise it was that same year.

Iamclueless

Just in case anyone else is wondering, I had asked the same questions on HMRC community forums and got this reply (I won't call it an answer, because it isn't!)

"Hi,
Courses for approved training credits are vocational, technical or rehabilitative. Customers do not claim approved training credits as the Training Enterprise Council or local enterprise companies notify HMRC of attendees on approved training courses.
Thank you."

When I asked for further clarification, the reply was:

"If you were over the age of 18 and Jobcentre Plus sent you on a government-approved training course that lasts no longer than 1 year, you should have received credits automatically.
If you were over 18 and, on a government approved training course that lasts no longer than 1 year, but you were not sent by Jobcentre Plus, you would have needed to apply for class 1 credits. 
Write to:
PT Operations North East England, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AN, United Kingdom.
Include your National Insurance number, personal details, and say when the credits are for and why you’re eligible.
To re-allocate a payment to a different tax year you can either write in to the same address explain the situation or you can call National Insurance on 0300 200 3500 and we can do this over the phone with you.
You can also use the webchat function to chat to one of our advisers. 
Please be aware we can only re allocate a payment to another tax year if you’ve received confirmation from DWP that it will benefit your pension."

So, still no definite yes/no on whether an HNC is goverment-approved or not, and it's taken a week for each query to get a reply.  Ho hum.