Partner's name on child benefit- can he transfer NI contributions to me

[StatePensionHelp]

Please don't anyone have a go!!
We know we've been feckless.

I'm 53, partner 55
I haven't worked since age 40
Prior to that I worked for 24 years- full time for about 10 years, 30 hours p/w for another 10 years, then 22.5 hrs p/w from age 35 until 40
Had first child at age 35 and second at 37
We qualified for child benefit and that was paid into my partner's account- so his name on it.
Obviously childcare was my jurisdiction, but my name's not on the child benefit.
We stopped being entitled to child benefit about 2 years ago- partner reached earning threshold.
I would very much like to work but have had my struggles and, as I say, haven't worked for 14 years.
I haven't claimed any benefits and have never sought an official "sicknote".
So, my issue is NI contributions and state pension.
We've buried our heads a bit with all this but I know I need to face it.
I do realise there's a govt website and a pension forecast that I can do but I'm just interested in any advice generally.

Thanks if you've read this far!

My concerns are:

1. Can I have the child benefit NI contributions- if there are any- transferred to me retrospectively as the mother of the children and chief carer

2. Can I pay 10 years' worth of national insurance over the next 10 years by hook or by crook (I have a currently defunct etsy shop but could probably restart and earn enough literally just to pay NI contributions- I'm seeing estimates of voluntary, gap-plugging contributions at around £70 per month.)

3. Can I over-pay and shorten the time frame for voluntary contributions if my shop does better than predicted?!

4. Should I seek out a professional financial advisor?

5. Probably goes without saying, but I don't have a private pension and my partner only started paying into his work pension in his forties, I think (can't clarify specifically as he's at work)

6. I'm thinking civil partnership might be a very good idea as we're just co-habitees in law- if that's even a legal definition

As before, please don't be harsh, I know we've fucked up! This is the first time I've taken my head out the sand and addressed it. I think partner has been looking into it but not sure how far he's got. I know it's worried him, it's gnawed away at me, and it's been the elephant in the room over the last few years.

Phew! That was unintentionally long.
Thanks for any help.

If you worked pt you may have paid enough ni to accrue the year or you can check your records online and pay to make up any shortfall to do so. You could transfer the cb claim to your name now (opting out of receiving payments) but if you are working and paying ni contributions it may not be of any benefit longer term. I don’t think you can retrospectively.

@StatePensionHelp

1. Do a state pension forecast and check missing NI years https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension
2. Yes you can pay Class 3 voluntary contributions for past years but there is a limit how far you can go back. It’s less than £1k per year.
3. You can pay several past years NI in one go.
4. Child Benefit - I would phone HMRC and ask about your partners CB credits being transferred to you.https://www.gov.uk/find-hmrc-contacts/child-benefit-general-enquiries
5. If you are genuinely self employed e.g. Etsy shop then going forward you could pay voluntary Class 2 NI which is cheaper https://www.gov.uk/self-employed-national-insurance-rates
6. Pensions- ideally both you and your partner need to have pensions as sadly one of you will die before the other and so you need to each provide for yourselves.
7. MoneyHelper is the gmt advice service on pensions. https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement

This is quite a lot to take in so do one step at a time.

HTH.

Thank you so much, @Harassedevictee

I am sooo glad I finally addressed this- it's been a monkey on my back.
Just spoken with partner- he has in fact paid a private (work) pension since age 30 with a 3 year gap some years later but currently paying. So I'm glad I underestimated that!

Sorry, just one further question- my partner was informed that it's only the most recent working years that count towards pension i.e. I'm in trouble because none of my 24 years of NI payments are recent.
Obviously I hope this isn't the case- and it does sound a bit daft!!
IE I'm hoping that once I've paid another 11 years' worth NI, I'll be entitled to the full amount- whether the gaps in employment be recent or old.
I appreciate that you might not be able to answer this but I might as well get it all out!

Anyway, I will go through all the sites you've provided- as you say, a lot to take in and I really appreciate having the links methodically posted for me. I feel in control.

Thanks @LIZS
Sorry- it looks like I ignored your post but it's only just posted!
Right, I obviously need to do the online work.
We're no longer in receipt of child benefit as partner over threshold now- it stopped a couple of years ago.
So, yes, it was the retrospective I was interested in.
Never mind- this all doesn't look as frightening as I thought :)

Oh @LIZS
Just re-read your post and realise you stated the cb claim, not payments- understood. Thanks for the info.
Unfortunately kids 16 and 19 respectively so I think no longer eligible based on age- will check.

Ah, in that case they are too old to make a difference re. NI. I recently topped up some empty years back to 2017/8 and my history from 1980s was shown on the online record. There is a limit on how many years you can pay retrospectively for though(6 I think) but depending on your age you may still be able to achieve 35 before reaching retirement age.

@ItsFineReally
Thank you.
Yes, I was a bit surprised that cb stops at 16 not 18 ah well.

Thanks again @LIZS
That would be amazing if I could get it done by retirement age.
And good to know that your work in the 80s hasn't been forgotten by the state! I'm hopeful mine will be there too.

People are advising incorrectly. NI credits can be transferred retrospectively. I know as I have done it.

Hi @Mokeytree
Thanks for the reply- very interesting
Do you mean credits from child benefit?

Yes it's on the gov page.

It doesn't stop at 16 if they stay in education.

Transfer class 3 credits, there's a form to fill in. If I recall it asks why you are doing it so late and I explained that I hadn't known it was possible and they completed the transfer.

Thanks so much @Mokeytree
I will get around to looking at that page.
I've been so worried and you've all reassured me that that it's not as desperate as I thought

seriously! This is just getting better and better
Thanks @Shinyandnew1

thanks again @Mokeytree

Thanks for this. I had a friend in a similar situation who had been advised incorrectly in that case!

Apologies, OP.

I thought you could claim retrospectively too, as there is a big thing at the moment about lots of older women getting a lower pension than they should because of cb years not being claimed (home responsibility protection). Many are getting state pension payments backdated.

Give them a ring as pp said I am sure you can transfer them. I do think child benefits paying your ni credits is only for the first 13 years but could be wrong. (Looked into it as I’m self employed and my cb is paying mine currently)

Child benefit is paid if in full time education but I think you can only claim for ni protection until the youngest child is 12.

Op surely if your youngest is 16 or thereabouts its time to get back into work and get your own pension as well as your state pension?

Even if you can't transfer the NI credits over from your DH you should still be able to acrue 30 years NI between the 24 years already worked and between now and your retirement.

But really i think everyone is going to need a private pension to top up what the government gives people. Or its going to be a massive struggle

Exactly. If op is 53 there are potentially 14 working years available, and possibility to pay to add part paid or empty years to existing years accrued and make up her record up to 35.

I think you only need 30 years

Can you get a job?