High Income Child Benefit Charge Gender Pension Gap 2023-09-04
2023-09-04
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The high income child benefit charge is under scrutiny for its potential impact on the gender pension gap, affecting stay-at-home parents who are usually women.
What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the high income child benefit charge on the gender pension gap?
In April, we announced plans to address this issue by introducing a retrospective national insurance credit, which will ensure that more people—especially women—have the opportunity to obtain a full state pension.
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Assessment & feedback
The assessment of the potential impact on the gender pension gap was not provided, only an announcement about addressing it.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The high income child benefit charge forces families to apply for a benefit they are not entitled to in order to receive national insurance credits, which is seen as problematic.
The high income child benefit charge is potentially a scandal waiting to happen. Currently, families have to apply for a benefit they know they are not entitled to so that the stay-at-home parent—usually the mother—gets the national insurance credits that she needs for her state pension. It is good to hear that the Government are doing something, but they need to reform the process further. Will they agree to at least put some comms in? I certainly had not heard of the changes in April.
I am glad that the hon. Lady agrees with those changes. I assure her that we will be bringing them forward as soon as we can.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific commitment to implement communication measures and further reforms was not provided, only a general assurance of future action.
Response accuracy