Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of women who are not claiming Child Benefit due to a parent earning above £50,000 and who do not receive the credit for National Insurance State Pension each year.

Child Benefit can help some claimants qualify for National Insurance credits. These credits count towards their State Pension and protect it by making sure they don’t have gaps in their National Insurance record.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ensures that individuals have the information they need to make well-informed choices about their pension position and Child Benefit. HMRC provides specific information on the Child Benefit claim form, through the HMRC helpline, online at gov.uk, through partners such as Citizen’s Advice, and in the Bounty Packs that go to new parents.

However, some people may choose not to claim Child Benefit. HMRC does not have an estimate of the number of people whose state pension entitlements are affected by their decision not to claim.