National Insurance Credits

If you are unable to work because you are ill or caring for others, unemployed but seeking work, on maternity or adoption leave, on jury service or finishing secondary school, you may be entitled to National Insurance credits. These are class one contributions that you are credited as having paid, although you have not. National Insurance credits ensure that anyone in a difficult situation will not have gaps in their National Insurance record which prevent them from qualifying for benefits or for the full State Pension. You must inform Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs of your current situation: you will not usually receive N.I. credits automatically. However, you should automatically receive credits for the tax years when you turn sixteen, seventeen and eighteen if you are finishing secondary school at the time.