Gaps in my NI record as a result of staying in full time education

Hi, I have gaps in my NI record for the four years that I remained in full time education whilst at University and Law School. I did not know at the time that HMRC should have been notified that I was going to remain in full time education. I know that, if there are gaps in your NI record and contributions are missing, that you have a certain amount of time to make a payment to make up the shortfall in NI, but what is the procedure for people for circumstances like mine, where they were not in work? I have both a Degree certificate and a Post-Grad Course Certificate that I can provide as evidence for my full-time education, would this enable my record to be changed? I can't find any guidance on these specific circumstances. Is there anything else that I could obtain as supporting evidence? If you could advise me of the procedure, I would be very grateful. Many thanks.

Hi JL12

For the period that you were in full time education you may be able to pay voluntary class 3 contributions.  
You may wish to call our National Insurance Helpline on 0300 200 3500 and they will be able to advise you of the amounts required and how to pay them.
Before you pay voluntary contributions you may wish to check your current and future entitlement to a British State Pension.  
More details are given at: Application for a State Pension forecast.

Thank you.

You do not answer the question. The question was how to get credited for years in fulltime education without paying Class 3.

To be fair to hmrc admin, that wasn't the question you originally asked. But their answer still applies, even to your rephrased question. Periods in university or full time education don't automatically qualify for NI credits. Starting credits used to give credits for the years you were 16-18. But that's unlikely to apply to most students at uni or law school and ended in 2010

I, and I think of other, may have a similar problem, but I am confused by the information given when I checked my National Insurance record. I am intending to retire prior to reaching the age at which a state pension is paid, but am able to draw upon my various final salary and DC personal pensions. What confuses me is the various bits of information that a) I have 45 years of full contributions, (which I believe is over the minimum needed) b) have 4 more years still to contribute (I think this might only apply IF I carry on working up to the state pension age, but the wording implies that this is a shortfall), c) 2 years when I did not contribute enough (these were when I was at university- 3 year course, but I guess working from Sept to March was enough for that tax year (why is this relevant since I have paid more than the minimum number of years) and that it is now too late to pay for those years as this has to be done within 6 years (but how would I have known that, back then in pre internet days?) d) I have entitlement to the full state pension Seems to be a mixed message.

Hi Edwin Richards,
Unfortunately, an individual does not receive credits of National Insurance for periods of Full Time Education.
Thank you.

 

Hi Peter,

The Pension Service will be able to check whether you have a full entitlement to a UK State Pension or whether you need to pay further National Insurance contributions.  

You can contact The Pension Service here: 

Check your State Pension forecast

Thank you.

Hi, Admin, Thank you for the information. I have a follow-up question about this: "an individual does not receive credits of National Insurance for periods of Full Time Education". I understand that this is currently and recently correct. However, I seem to rememer that when I was a university student 1980-1984 that this was not the case - some credits were given. Is that the case? Was this rule/approach different in the past, and if so, when did it change? Also, noting that NI credit was given for employment during university vacation time, can you confirm that there should also be NI credit for periods of unemployment (if signed on) during the same period? Thanks.

Hi Kazoo,
Prior to 2010 individuals were given credits for their National Insurance account for the first 3 tax years in their working life, for the tax years they reached ages 16, 17 and 18.
Credits were not given for periods of Full Time Education.
Any periods where you signed on as unemployed should also have given you credits and you should contact your local Benefits Office if credits are not recorded on your Personal Tax Account.
Thank you. 




 

Sorry about resurrecting this but I am also confused by this. I was given the impression at the time, some 30 years ago, that when I was in full time education I would still be receiving national insurance contributions. However, I have also found a gap for the 3 years I was at university. Is there any way to fill up these 3 years? Until recently I was not even aware of this issue. (It is obviously well past usual 6 years)

Hi MARK CASSON,
Until 5 April 2010, to protect the NI records of students who stayed in full time education for tax years commencing on or after 6 April 1975, regulation 4 allowed a customer to be credited with Class 3 NICs, which count for State Pension and, up until 6 April 2017, bereavement benefits.
These starting credits could be awarded for the full three tax years containing their 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays, whether or not the young person was in full time education, and were recorded on their National Insurance account.
If your period at University was after 18 years of age , no further credits would be due.
You will not be able to make good the 3  year period as it is too late, however you can ask for a pension forecast (if not already state pension age ) as you may already have enough Qualifying years for State pension.
Thank you.

Hi there, at the time I was in full time education as PhD student I was also a GTA (graduate teaching assistant), and for that I was paid by hour. I can see that I have gaps in my NI records, if I pay them will they count as credits towards my NI records?

Hi,
If you apply for a State Pension Forecast via:
Check your State Pension forecast 
this will detail your current and future entitlement to a UK State Pension and will detail whether paying any voluntary National Insurance contributions will improve your entitlement.
Thank you.