Additional 3 years of contributions due to a bug

Hi, Last year I discovered that my national insurance record contains 3 additional years - the year-by-year breakdown is correct and shows X full years, but the summary says X+3 years of full contributions. When I called, the operator told me that they are aware of this - there was a bug in the system at some point which erroneously added 3 years, they fixed the bug but will not remove the 3 years, so I will have the extra 3 years permanently. I don't know who was affected, some other people I know don't have this "issue", so maybe I am in a narrow window of foreigners of certain age moving to the UK in 2005. Of course this is only positive for me, but it creates complications. I now live in another country where I should let them know of previous pension contributions abroad, and I'm not sure what to write about the UK :). I can try to explain the bug but I'm not sure they will believe me. I can say I worked for X years, but my record summary says X+3. I can say I worked for X+3 years but the 3 years don't show up in the year-by-year breakdown, I don't know what dates to put for them. Is there any official guidance about this? For example, an official statement about the bug that I can forward to stakeholders. Or which 3 years do those extra contributions refer to? I seem to remember the operator said it was for 16-18 birthday but not sure. Thanks!

Actually I discovered the answer after searching for a while so writing it here if someone else finds this thread - it's the "starting credits" concept where you get NI contributions for the tax years of your 16-18 birthday. This was in effect from 1975 and stopped for people turning 16 after (not sure if including?) 2011.

Hi,
Unfortunately we are unable to give a specific response to you via this Forum.  
We can give a general explanation of this issue and would advise that you write to our Individuals Caseworker Team who can look into your record and provide you with a suitable response based on your circumstances.  
Until 5 April 2010, to protect the National Insurance(NI) records of students who stayed in full time education for tax years commencing on or after 6 April 1975, regulation 4 (of the Social Security Regulations 1975) allowed a customer to be credited with Class 3 NICs, which count for State Pension purposes.
These starting credits (Juvenile 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 automatically recorded on the National Insurance and PAYE Service(NPS) account.  
This will then be reflected through your Personal Tax Account when you view your NI record.  However, the conditions for these credits are that you must have been resident in UK at the time the credits are awarded and registered for a UK NI account.  
If you come from abroad and your Date of Entry into the UK scheme falls after these years, there will be a Flag set on the system to allow the “discounting” of these credits and have them removed.  
The Personal Tax Account view of your NI record may still reflect these credits until they have actually been removed.  
The address to write to for specific confirmation is:  
Individual Caseworker, PT Operations North East England. BX9 1AN
Thank you.

Hi, I’m so glad I’ve found this thread as we’ve just come across the exact same issue! Moved to the U.K. in 2004, left in 2012 so contributed 8 years but the summary is saying 11. Which in our case makes a huge difference as it entitles us to a pension, which is why we were looking, with a view to paying the missing 2 years to get to 10!! Did you ever get a confirmation from the address above? Thanks in advance

Today, I had the best surprise of my life when I found out about the 3 extra years added to my record which I was not at all aware of as it does not show on my online records. According to my records online, I had 34 years NI contributions but upon speaking to an adviser I was told that my pension summary stating that I had reached the required 35 years was correct because of the Juvenile Credits. I arrived in this country in 1990 and started paying NI contributions from 1991. To this date, I had absolutely no idea of the existence of these Juvenile Credits! Not complaining at all but I think these 3+ years should be recorded online as part of one's NI total contributions.

Hi, I have the opposite issue. The number of years I have to add to get a full SP has increased from 6 to 8. Can someone explain why this has happened, please?

Hi, I have these 3 starting credit years in my NI record. I moved to the UK in 1990. However I did not arrive in the UK untill after Uni my early 20's. I was in full time education in Ireland but not resident in the UK on my 16th, 17th, or 18th birthday. "the conditions for these credits are that you must have been resident in UK at the time the credits are awarded and registered for a UK NI account. " Can you clarify, to keep these 3 years of starting credits, do you have to be A) Resident in the UK with a NI number sometime between 1975 and 2010, and be aged 15 between 1975 and 2010 OR B) As above plus resident in the UK in the tax year of your 16th birthday I satisfy A) but not B) - Will the 3 years of starting credits count towards my state pension? Thank You

Hi Giggs11,
Yes, these credits should be considered for your state pension calculation.
These credits are known as ‘juvenile credits’ also known as ‘starting credits’.
Three years were awarded to those coming into the UK from abroad if they had registered for a National Insurance Number before 6 April 2010. These credits may appear on your record before the date you arrived in the UK, and not necessarily be awarded to your 16th 17th and 18th birthday years.
Thank you
 

Do these starter credits then help to qualify for Class 2 voluntary contributions under the condition? "paid contributions or had Class 2 contributions treated as having been paid for at least 3 years" Thanks

I'd like to know that also. Do the 3 years starter credits ensure you qualify for the class 2 voluntary contributions?

Hi mmclo Mc L,
To help answer your National Insurance query please contact our National Insurance helpline to discuss further.
Contact details here: 
National Insurance: general enquiries
Thank you.