National Insurance contributions for unemployed person

[BlueHayes]

Hi

I'm self employed, my partner is unemployed and as such spends my money as needed - I have a standing order for a small amount weekly set up. She does not work for me or anything so we aren't trying to evade that.

How can she pay National Insurance to ensure that she still has state benefits etc? i.e. voluntarily pay NI.

I mentioned the weekly "payment" above incase that would make any difference, I'm guessing it would be unusual for an unemployed person to have money. The only reason the money is transferred to her account is because we don't currently have a shared account. It's not coming from the business bank but my own, she has nothing to do with the business - just want her paying NI from the money she receives from me currently until she's working.

Short version: How can an unemployed person pay NI voluntarily? I've searched but can't find a simple answer to this. She's not looking after a child or disabled person (I have seen things about that).

EDIT: Should have noted that she's not claiming benefits and we aren't interested in doing this, so NI isn't being paid this way.

Thanks

[elainec100@cheapaccounting]

Is she receiving any benefits / registered as unemployed?

[BlueHayes]

Thanks for your response.

Nope, no benefits, not registered as unemployed. She is likely to be unemployed for a while.

Is "registering" as unemployed a requirement? This may sound odd but she hasn't been employed before (though self employed for a short while).

[robindunne]

There are Class 3 contributions which can be made, but from I remember they are relatively expensive (can't remember how much from the top of my head).

Is there a reason why they are not signing on. If they do they could qualify for NI credits - see here:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/benefits/national_insurance_contributions_and_benefits.htm

[elainec100@cheapaccounting]

If registered as unemployed then she may receive NI credits whilst out of work - this depends and best ask at Job Centre.

So even though she may not get benefits - if she gets NI credits it can still be worth while to go there.

See here:

http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/state-pensions/national-insurance-credits

section on eligibility

[BlueHayes]

Thanks for the links I'll take a look tomorrow (I'm about to go out right now).

There is no reason for not signing on, call us silly but the hassle of it when we already have a healthy income between us is not worth it (other than for NI I guess) and no need for us to take further money from tax payers if we have a fine income between the two of us !!

Thanks for your help.

[elainec100@cheapaccounting]

Thanks for the links I'll take a look tomorrow (I'm about to go out right now).

There is no reason for not signing on, call us silly but the hassle of it when we already have a healthy income between us is not worth it (other than for NI I guess) and no need for us to take further money from tax payers if we have a fine income between the two of us !!

Thanks for your help.

fair enough - perhaps another way of looking at it is that you have paid tax (I assume!) on your healthy income. So receiving the small amount of NI credit that your wife needs is covered by what you have paid :)