National Insurance Credits 2020/2021 whilst homeschooling my primary school children (Covid)

LouisaSpencer

I've spent hours on the phone to HMRC and they eventually referred me to the Pensions Ombudsman, but they dont deal with state pension queries. Please help!
I have a gap in my NI record because I needed to support my 4 & 8 year old when the schools shut during the COVID pandemic. Usually I'd be able to apply for NI credits if I had also claimed child benefit, but due to my husband's salary level, we were not eligible. Neither did I apply for JSA during this time period. Surely my husband's salary doesnt affect my own personal NI credits? Please help me understand how I claim them. Thank you

DE_612183

I think you still claim Child Benefit, but then your partner has to pay the Child Benefit Tax Charge - this in itself my negate the Child Benefit - but not the add-ons that come with it such as NI credits....

Did you claim CB - or just not bother?

DE_612183

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge

DE_612183

as it says - you can opt-out - but you need to make ac conscious decision to do that not just ignore the claim.

LouisaSpencer

Ive tried to opt out, but it just says I dont have a claim to opt out from

DE_612183

so you probably need to start a claim, and then opt out?

sheramber

LouisaSpencer said:

I've spent hours on the phone to HMRC and they eventually referred me to the Pensions Ombudsman, but they dont deal with state pension queries. Please help!
I have a gap in my NI record because I needed to support my 4 & 8 year old when the schools shut during the COVID pandemic. Usually I'd be able to apply for NI credits if I had also claimed child benefit, but due to my husband's salary level, we were not eligible. Neither did I apply for JSA during this time period. Surely my husband's salary doesnt affect my own personal NI credits? Please help me understand how I claim them. Thank you

The salary of either partner affects whether child benefit  payment  is not available , depending on the level of the higher paid one. 

You can still claim child benefit and pay some or all of it back, again depending on the salary.

or , you can claim child benefit but opt out of payment to avoid having to repay it.
This arrangement means you get NI credits.

It would appear you  have not claim child benefit  at all. 

You  might want to  consider claiming it now. 

At present CB claims can only be backdated three months. 

However, the government stated they intended to bring in legislation  to allow backdating to earlier years from April  26.

No further information has been given.