Student and National Insurance

[pureguilt]

My daughter graduated from university last year and has had a number of part time jobs since. She has now been accepted to do a Phd which will last another 4 years.
Under the previous NI scheme full time students were awarded NI credits but as this no longer the case, should she consider buying previous years contributions as it amounts to almost 9 years without any contributions?

All advice/ comments greatly appreciated.

[trickywoo]

I personally can't see the state pension being enough to be worth the contributions when I'm due to retire and I'm a significant age past being a student.

It's highly likely your daughter will need to be aged 70+ to collect a state pension and it won't amount to much.

I'd (legally) avoid all the NI I could and put it into a SIPP instead.

[pureguilt]

That was my initial thoughts. Thanks for the sanity check.

[Dr Slotter]

Agree with the above, and its also worth noting that depending on the discipline, it may be that your daughter earns enough from being a teaching assistant, bits of consultancy work, any other part-time work etc. so that NICs will be paid occasionally.