The Government has said parents who did not claim child benefit will be able top up their state pension for free. Parents will be able to apply for the National Insurance credits from April 2026, although the exact details have not yet been revealed.

ThisIsMoney reported that the move would reassure parents who were considering buying state pension top-ups ahead of a looming deadline so they could close gaps created by not claiming child benefits.

Parents who do not qualify for child benefit can lose £329 a year, or £6,500 in state pension, over a 20-year retirement.

Claiming child benefit allows parents to collect National Insurance credits which could contribute towards a full state pension entitlement.

But when child benefit was changed in 2013, the introduction of the high-income child benefit charge or HICBC meant many parents stopped claiming it.

The high-income benefit charge meant child benefit was reduced for those earning £50,000 a year and scrapped for anyone earning £60,000

Since then, child benefit can be claimed if one member of the household earns £60,000, but payments stop altogether at £80,000.

The Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling, asked the Government when it planned to implments the changes

Treasury Minister James Murray MP replied: 'I can confirm that the new National Insurance credit for parents who did not claim child benefit due to the High-Income Child Benefit Charge will be implemented as planned from April 2026 to ensure that affected parents and carers do not miss out on building entitlement to the state pension.'