---

National Insurance Credits

Answer

Child Benefit is a non-means tested benefit payable to families as a contribution towards the cost of raising children. Successfully applying for Child Benefit automatically gives eligible parents and carers Class 3 National Insurance (NI) credits until their child turns twelve. The requirement to apply for Child Benefit to qualify for the corresponding NI credit has existed since the introduction of Child Benefit in 2010. A similar policy link between Child Benefit and an individual’s NI record applied previously via Home Responsibilities Protection.

Given the link between Child Benefit and an individual’s NI record is a long-standing feature of the system, HMRC has not conducted an assessment of the impacts of requiring parents to apply for Child Benefit to access these particular NI credits.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

119135

Session

2024-26

Subjects

Child benefit National insurance credits

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk