To not know about national insurance credits even if not eligible for child benefit???

[mollycoddle77]

On another thread about state pension and national insurance contributions, I have just learned that as I have been unemployed for two years and have two young children (both now 6yo), I should have registered for child benefit, even knowing that I would be ineligible due to DH earnings, and I would have got national insurance credits equivalent to contributions towards state pension!!! How was I supposed to know this 😫😫😫?? Have I lost out on two years of free NI contributions? 😭 If so this word should be spread to all sahms out there!! Sorry for the prolific exclamation marks, but I am gutted...

I’m not sure if there’s a way to backdate it for the two missed years, maybe ask when you register?

I did know this but a lot of women don’t. I’ve also known a sahm have her working husband claim it in his name despite her now having lost NI for her pension, I think it was changed over when I mentioned she wouldn’t get her contributions... irrespective, a lot of women don’t know how important child benefit is even though it’s “only” £20 a week (if his earnings even let you claim it)

I do understand what you're saying but 2 years on the scheme of things isn't the end of the world. Also if you're under 40 they probably won't be a state pension by the time you retire so you're worrying about the wrong thing really.

If you're out of work it's always recommended that you keep your NI contributions up to date. This can be through claiming a benefit (such as UC, JSA etc), through making voluntary contributions (sending a cheque to HMRC), or by claiming Child Benefit (you can make a nil claim).

Child benefit can only be backdated for three months, so unfortunately you have lost them for the previous tax years.

Some information here. Opt back in OP.

this was very well explained when I registered dc's birth (ages ago).
we received the child benefits form there as well.

And if you are a grandparent under state pension age looking after grandchildren, they can claim for ni contributions as well ( by way of the child benefit ni that the working parent isn’t using if you see what I mean)
Spread the word to grandparents as thousands are unaware of this. I’m 5 years short and they cost £700 a year to buy so my free childcare will be recognised and I will be credited backdated fro October apparently. It’s a claim form to download

Did you ever claim cb for them , the system changed only a few years ago.

I was just going to say the same as @knittingnanny regarding ‘gifting’ these NI contributions to grandparents who do occasional childcare when you do go back to work. You can only gift to one person though and only up to their pensionable age.

Thanks for bringing that up OP, I recently looked into child benefit (not eligible...) and don't remember this being mentioned on the government website at all. Will have another look, but it definitely wasn't front and center! Cheeky...

And up until the child is 12.

@catlady3 you are eligible but the higher earner would have to pay back some or all of the CB. The eligibility for the NI is still available you just tick a box to day you don’t want the money (or it was when I did it online as I was never given a form for my second child).

I only became aware of this recently on MN. Luckily I just filled in the forms when DC as soon as the DC were born. YANBU, this should be publicised more clearly! Women missing out as always

www.gov.uk/child-benefit Explained here.

Did you not claim benefits for the 2 years you were unemployed?

Tabby OP has a DH who is earning so she wouldn't need to claim benefits.

You need to claim benefits to get your class 2 insurance paid. She was unemployed, therefore entitled to benefits. I can never understand why people dont claim. In this case, the OP has missed out on 2 years of ni contributions to pension. Its irrelevant if her husband is earning or not.

I have been receiving CB each month then end of year paying the money back , OH had to do a tax return which was a right faff, just discovered this week that I can cancel receiving the cash but my claim is still 'live' so I still get the benefits i.e. NI contribution for my pension. I will get this till my youngest is 12 and then I will be in the position to work more hours so no need for it anymore.
Makes life easier not having to give cash back at end of year.

Everyone would be eligible to claim CB. If you are in a family with a higher earner (over £50k) then some or all would need to be paid back (all paid back once you reach 60k). Alternatively you can claim but opt out of payment and that still preserves your NI credits

Tabby you can't claim benefits if you are living with a partner who is earning over the benefits cut off apart from child benefit which then has to be paid back. Obviously OP wasn't aware that she could still claim it.

Aargh, thanks all so much for your responses, I am trying to process it at the minute. I'm 46, hopefully there will be such a thing as state pension at some point for me, but yeah who knows.

I claimed CB when I was on mat leave, but stopped when I went back to work. Then quit work to retrain and should start working again next year.

I agree with the poster who said women lose out again - this really is not widely known and many, many women are losing out (see also the money saving expert link someone provided)

"Contribution-basedJSAis paid for up to 6 months, but onlyifyou paid enough Class 1 National Insurance contributionswhenyou were working. Youcanget it evenifyourpartner worksorifyou have savings"

Just found this.

I seem to rember all the info on the website when I first claimed child benefit.It was also in the forms when DD was 16 to continue claiming as she is in full time education.

But if she wasn't actively looking for work then she wouldn't qualify

Yes but OP wasn't looking for work so why would she have claimed JSA? That would involve a lot of jumping through hoops and attending appointments at the Jobcentre.