Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints her Department has received from people who did not claim child benefit and were unaware of the link between child benefit and pension payments, in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Information on this specific category of complaint could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The Government has encouraged families who are responsible for a child under 12 to claim Child Benefit regardless of household income to help them build qualifying years of National Insurance for future State Pension entitlement. Information on what parents should do to protect their future State Pension entitlement is clearly provided on the Child Benefit claim form.
Qualifying Years of National Insurance can be built through a number of ways; National Insurance (NI) contributions whilst working or self-employed; by being credited with NI credits including for Child Benefit; and through making voluntary NI contributions. Additionally, individuals may build up sufficient qualifying years for the full rate of the new State Pension, over an expected working life of 50 years, even if there are some gaps in their NI record. Most individuals under the age of 50 will get the full rate of the new State Pension with 35 qualifying years.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in Harrow East constituency; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19th January to question number 104377.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner constituency; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19th January to question number 104377.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in Harrow West constituency; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19th January to question number 104377.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions officials in his Department have had with (a) Ministers and (b) officials in other Government departments on the level of information contained in Bounty Joy Ltd information provided to new mothers on the possible loss of some future pension rights in the event that those women do not apply for child benefit; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Government has encouraged families who are responsible for a child under 12 to claim Child Benefit regardless of household income to help them build qualifying years of National Insurance for future State Pension entitlement. The Child Benefit claim form and guidance notes were redesigned in April 2019 to help people understand the importance of claiming Child Benefit whether or not they decide to receive Child Benefit payments.
The Child Benefit claim form is also available online at GOV.UK, through the HMRC helpline and through partners such as Citizen’s Advice.
Qualifying Years of National Insurance can be built through a number of ways; National Insurance (NI) contributions whilst working or self-employed; by being credited with NI credits including for Child Benefit; and through making voluntary NI contributions. Additionally, individuals may build up sufficient qualifying years for the full rate of the new State Pension, over an expected working life of 50 years, even if there are some gaps in their NI record. Most individuals under the age of 50 will get the full rate of the new State Pension with 35 qualifying years.
The Department does not believe that there have been any recent discussions on the matter raised.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department takes to inform new mothers of their rights to claim child benefit; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Guy Opperman
DWP does not administer Child Benefit. However, should a new parent raise a Child Benefit query, DWP staff can direct customers to submit a claim with HMRC. This includes signposting to helpful Child Benefit advice and guidance readily available on the Gov.uk website.