What counts as a "government-approved training course"?

I understand that you can claim NI credits if "You’re over 18 and on a government-approved training course that lasts no longer than 1 year but you were not sent by Jobcentre Plus". I have a partial year that I was about to top-up with voluntary contributions, but during that year I did an HNC at a local college, which lasted from August-May. Would that count as an approved training course? If I top-up that year now so that I don't miss the April deadline, but then get credits for that course, can my voluntary contributions be refunded or re-allocated to a different year?

Hi,
Courses for approved training credits are vocational, technical or rehabilitative. Customers do not claim approved training credits as the Training Enterprise Council or local enterprise companies notify HMRC of attendees on approved training courses.
Thank you.

Hi, thanks for the response, but just to clarify - does that mean I can *not* claim credits for my HNC in Construction Management? Even though it was advertised as a vocational course? And can voluntary contributions be re-allocated to a different year? Thanks.

Hi NIcredithelp,
If you were over the age of 18 and Jobcentre Plus sent you on a government-approved training course that lasts no longer than 1 year, you should have received credits automatically.
If you were over 18 and, on a government approved training course that lasts no longer than 1 year, but you were not sent by Jobcentre Plus, you would have needed to apply for class 1 credits. 
Write to:
PT Operations North East England, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AN, United Kingdom.
Include your National Insurance number, personal details, and say when the credits are for and why you’re eligible.
To re-allocate a payment to a different tax year you can either write in to the same address explain the situation or you can call National Insurance on 0300 200 3500 and we can do this over the phone with you.
You can also use the webchat function to chat to one of our advisers. 
Please be aware we can only re allocate a payment to another tax year if you’ve received confirmation from DWP that it will benefit your pension. 
Thank you. 


 

So no-one can give a simple yes or no answer to whether an HNC is government-approved or not, at least not before the top-up deadline. Thanks.