National Insurance Lower Earnings Limit threshold

[onefalsewidow]

From May I'll have to consistently (week in, week out) earn above the lower earnings limit (£123) for national insurance purposes as my eldest will be 12 years old and I'll lose the national insurance credits towards my state pension. I work in retail and am in receipt of universal credits earning above the AET and will continue to be in the light touch work group however my weekly earnings vary to the extent than some weeks I'll be earning under the lower earnings limit. For example last week I earned £250 and next week will only be £50. If I miss the threshold for just one week in 52 does that mean I lose a whole year of national insurance contributions? The reason I say this is that I have 28 years of full contributions on my record with 22 year to contribute however I am planning to retire at 52 which coincides with my eldest child reaching 18. I have a good (inherited private pension) and a house to sell and then move overseas.

You’ll get a national insurance credit for every week that you earn above the minimum. At the end of the tax year you can check your record and pay to make up for the missing credits.

Fantastic thank you.. so I assume I only pay £15 (at current rates) for the weeks that I miss the LEL. Brilliant.

I meant youngest not eldest btw

@onefalsewidow what should happen is you get notified if you have a part year with details of how much you need to pay to make it a full year.

Personally I check mine each year, so December 2022 I checked my 2021/22 year and it showed how much I needed to pay to make it a full year.

Thank you :)