Child benefit and pensions

[PiratePetespajamas]

I don’t understand this.

We stopped claiming child benefit for my older child when my DH’s salary rose above the threshold. We claimed it for a while after he had just passed the threshold but it was a pain paying it back in tax at the end of the year so we decided it wasn’t worth it. And now we’re not at all eligible.

But what effect does this have on my pension? I am on mat leave again (went back at 13 months last time, will def be going back again). Do I need to claim it and pay it back just to protect my state pension?

Thanks.

You can claim it but opt out of payment so there wouldn't be anything to pay back. This still protects your NI credits up until your youngest child is 12

My Dh earns over the threshold but puts the surplus into his pension, this gets 40% tax back added to his pension and we get to keep the child benefit . Is that worth considering?

Sounds like OPs dh earns over £60k so would have to pay back the full amount of CB if they took the money. Everyone is eligible to claim it but those earning £50-£60k pay a proportion back and if you earn £60k it's all paid back. The alternative is to put in a claim but opt out of payment