Transferring NI Credits - pension

I currently have not paid enough National Insurance credits to qualify for a state pension.

My aim is to leave stbx's considerable police pension alone in exchange for more equity.

As I am 45 I hope I can accrue some sort of private pension of my own before I retire.

But I read somewhere 22 years may still not be long enough to qualify for a full state pension and that it might be possible to 'steal' some of his NI credits as after 30 years in the police he had already accrued the maximum needed.

Have I made this idea up or is it a possibility. If so how do I suggest this at mediation and in reality how does it get put into practice.

Many thanks if anyone has any thoughts.

You've got 22 years to pension age anyway so have you already got some NI credits as you would only need another 8 years for the full 30?

Probably worth checking your NI record as if you claimed Child Benefit you would have got a credit even if you didn't pay any NI that year

Wyspecial, thank you so much for your advice.

I have just checked on line through the government gateway thing and I actually have 29 years of full contributions!! I didn't realise that receiving child benefit helped things. I have worked almost all the way through but only part time or self employed since having the kids, and usually earning under the tax threshold. Hence my panic that I wouldn't have enough credit for a state pension.

This has really put my mind at ease so thank you again.

Hatton1 wrote:

This has really put my mind at ease so thank you again.

Result! I think you need 35 years for a full pension these days but you've got 22 years to get those last 6.

I think you can also buy back a certain number of years anyway.