Retrospectively claiming NI credit for a carer?

t5grf

My mother is 85 and has a state pension which is roughly 60% of the maximum. She only worked for a few years but did make some voluntary NI payments in the 1990’s both regular and one off to boost the pension.
whe cared for her father and brother both of whom had chronic health conditions for many years but despite advising her to become a carer and claim carers allowance which would have given her NI credits for the period she refused. Is there any way for her to now ask for credits for the period she cared for her family given she has had the state pension now for many years?

QrizB

If she's 85, she'll be under the old Basic State Pension rules, not the New State Pension.

Exactly how much pension is she receiving? How is it made up, per her latest notification from DWP?

t5grf

Thanks for the reply Qrizb, I’ll have to have a look at the latest notification when I next visit. She receives approximately £120 per week I think.

t5grf

I’ve checked with my mum, her weekly pension is £148.44..
her pension is made up of £146.45 basic state pension and £0.82 pre 97 additional state pension and £0.04 additional state pension, graduated retirement benefit of £0.88 and age addition of £0.25 pw 

many thanks 

QrizB

The current "full" rate of basic state pension is £176.45, so she's definitely not got a full one. 

I don't know the answer to your original question re. a retrospective claim for NI credits but hopefully someone will be along who does.

t5grf

Thanks for the reply.
if anyone can help or point me in the direction of some organisation that can I’d very much appreciate it.

t5grf

Just a quick bump if that’s allowed 

QrizB

If you're not getting much traction here, try asking on the Benefits board:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits

t5grf

Thanks - I’ll give that a go.

jem16

t5grf said:

My mother is 85 and has a state pension which is roughly 60% of the maximum. She only worked for a few years but did make some voluntary NI payments in the 1990’s both regular and one off to boost the pension.
whe cared for her father and brother both of whom had chronic health conditions for many years but despite advising her to become a carer and claim carers allowance which would have given her NI credits for the period she refused. Is there any way for her to now ask for credits for the period she cared for her family given she has had the state pension now for many years?

No she cannot claim Carer's Allowance for that far back. I believe it's 3 months that you can backdate it.

molerat

jem16 said:

t5grf said:

My mother is 85 and has a state pension which is roughly 60% of the maximum. She only worked for a few years but did make some voluntary NI payments in the 1990’s both regular and one off to boost the pension.
whe cared for her father and brother both of whom had chronic health conditions for many years but despite advising her to become a carer and claim carers allowance which would have given her NI credits for the period she refused. Is there any way for her to now ask for credits for the period she cared for her family given she has had the state pension now for many years?

No she cannot claim Carer's Allowance for that far back. I believe it's 3 months that you can backdate it.

They are not trying to claim Carer's Allowance but Carers Credit / HRP .  The Carers Credit form states that claims must be in before the end of the following tax year but you can ask for that to be relaxed by giving the reasons why you did not apply earlier.  One stumbling block that has been hit on another thread is the care recipient's NI number.