Impact assessment

Screening equality impact assessment for form CF83 improvements.

Published 21 March 2024

Project objectives

Improving the application process and customer journey for those who want to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions (NICs) for periods abroad. Paying voluntary NICs enables customers to fill any gaps in their National Insurance record to boost their State Pension. 

To ensure that where possible, the process for applying to pay voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 NICs for periods abroad will be done digitally with the introduction of an interactive digital application available on GOV.UK.

For those where the digital route is not suitable, to provide an improved and interactive print and post application form.

Customer benefits:

• the digital application:
  • makes the application process quicker and more secure
  • works better with assistive technology
  • uses intelligent questioning to gather all the information HMRC needs to determine (1) if the customer is eligible to pay voluntary NICs, and (2) whether these should be Class 2 or Class 3 NICs
  • provides extra support through iterative guidance and validating answers to make sure they’re in the right format
• the enhanced print and post version of the application form:
  • works better with assistive technology
  • uses intelligent questioning to gather all the information HMRC needs to determine (1) if the customer is eligible to pay voluntary NICs, and (2) whether these should be Class 2 or Class 3 NICs:
  • provides extra support through iterative guidance
• the improved process will allow HMRC to focus resource on those more in need customers
• improvements to the guidance for customers on GOV.UK

Customer groups affected

Customers who are either abroad, or have been abroad, and want fill gaps in their National Insurance record for some or all of these periods to boost their state pension.

What customers will need to do as a result of this change

They will have to complete the application form on-line. Digital customers will be able to send the completed form online.

For those where the digital route is not suitable, they will have to complete the interactive application form online but will still have to print the completed application form and post this to HMRC. 

How customers will access this service

Customers will access this service through a dedicated page on GOV.UK: Apply to pay voluntary NICs when abroad (CF83)

For those applying digitally, this will be through and authenticated journey using government gateway, and in the near future, GOV.UK one log in.

The service will be available for Welsh language users.

When customers need to do this

Customers have been able to apply digitally in English or Welsh since 31 January 2024.

Customers will be able to apply using the improved and Interactive print and post version in English or Welsh from 26 February 2024.

Assessing the impact

We assessed the impact on those in protected characteristic groups in line with the Equality Act and Public Sector Equality Duty and section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act:

• sex
• gender reassignment
• sexual orientation
• pregnancy and maternity
• marriage and civil partnership
• political opinion (in Northern Ireland only)

There is no evidence to suggest any specific impacts on those customers within any of these protected characteristic groups.

The following potential impacts were identified for customers from the following protected characteristic groups.

Racial groups

Impact on customers

Customers with different nationalities and citizenship, may be unable to access the government gateway to use the digital application due to the requirement for identification security checks and their lack of verifiable documentation. 

Proposed mitigation

These customers will be able to use the improved and interactive form, which can be completed online, printed out, and then posted to HMRC.

Disabled

Impact on customers

There will be some customers who may be digitally excluded/digitally assisted. They may be unable to complete either form online, or require additional support when doing so.

Those with disabilities are also less likely to be able to access the government gateway to use the digital application due to the requirement for identification security checks and their lack of verifiable documentation.

Proposed mitigation

These customers will be able to use the improved and interactive form, which can be completed online, printed out, and then posted to HMRC.

For those who are unable to complete either form online, existing support for digitally excluded customers will continue to be provided, by helpline adviser or the Extra Support Team.

The dedicated GOV.UK page will contain the necessary guidance and contact details for those who need this extra support.

Age

Impact on customers

Evidence shows that customers aged over 65 years are more likely to be impacted due to being less digitally able.

Similarly, those aged over 65 are more likely to have physical impairments and impaired motor functions. The impact of these could include limited dexterity and difficulty in using smart phone keyboards.

Older customers are less likely to access the government gateway to use the digital application due to the requirement for identification security checks and their lack of verifiable documentation.

Proposed mitigation

These customers will be able to use the improved and interactive form, which can be completed online, printed out, and then posted to HMRC.

For those who are unable to complete either form online, existing support for digitally excluded customers will continue to be provided, by helpline adviser or the Extra Support Team.

The dedicated GOV.UK page will contain the necessary guidance and contact details for those who need this extra support.

Religion or belief

Impact on customers

There are some religions who do not interact with digital systems whatsoever.

Proposed mitigation

For those who are unable to complete either from online, existing support for digitally excluded customers will continue to be provided, by helpline adviser or the Extra Support Team.

The dedicated GOV.UK page will contain the necessary guidance and contact details for those who need this extra support.

People with dependents (carers)

A trusted helper will have some involvement in this journey albeit it may only be in the print and post element.

Proposed mitigation

These customers will be able to use the improved and interactive form, which can be completed online, printed out, and then posted to HMRC.

For those who are unable to complete either from online, existing support for digitally excluded customers will continue to be provided, by helpline adviser or the Extra Support Team.

The dedicated GOV.UK page will contain the necessary guidance and contact details for those who need this extra support.

Opportunities to promote equalities

We have considered opportunities to promote equalities and good relations between people in each of the protected characteristic groups and those outside of that group.

None have been identified within the scope of this activity.

A full equality impact assessment is not recommended.