Claiming Child Benefit Could Boost Your State Pension
A clever mother of two has shared her secret to receiving £6,000 a year in state pension. Sumitra Dasgupta, 68, from Kent, claims that by simply claiming child benefit, she was able to secure a weekly state pension of £100. Despite never having a National Insurance (NI) number or any NI contributions, she has successfully received this substantial pension.
Building Up Credit for Your State Pension
In order to receive the full amount of state pension, you need 35 qualifying years of NI contributions. This currently amounts to £203.85 per week or £10,608 per year. By claiming child benefit, you can accumulate credit towards your state pension, ensuring that there are no gaps in your pension if you took time off work to care for your children.
How to Claim Your State Pension Without an NI Number
Sumitra faced difficulties in accessing her state pension due to not having an NI number and not seeking employment. However, with the help of Steve Webb, a former pensions minister, she was able to obtain an NI number and add Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) to her account. HRP was a scheme designed to protect parents' and carers' state pension, which has since been replaced by National Insurance credits. Sumitra now receives a pension of over £6,000 per year.
Explore Your Entitlement to a State Pension
According to Steve Webb, there may be many women who have been told that they are not entitled to a state pension because they do not have an NI record. However, since 2010, it has been possible to obtain a state pension based solely on NI credits, such as those acquired through claiming Child Benefit. Getting an NI number and having time at home with children credited to your NI account can be the pathway to a state pension. If you have been told that you are not entitled to a pension, it is worth exploring this route.
How to Apply for an NI Number and State Pension
If you do not have an NI number and believe you are eligible for credits towards your state pension, LCP recommends taking the following steps:
- Apply for an NI number online at Gov.uk, providing proof of identity such as a passport.
- Apply for home responsibilities protection (HRP) if you were getting child benefit in your name for a child under 16 and had given the child benefit office your NI number.
- Apply for state pension once you have an NI number and one or more years of NI contributions or credits.
By following these steps, you may be able to secure a state pension even without an NI number.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://hellofaread.com/money/shoppers-flock-to-buy-bm-kitchen-gadget-for-diy-mcdonalds-fix/
