Pension question not paying national insurance

[NEVERQUIT3331]

Good Evening,

I have a relative who qualifies for pension age in a few years time. The individual is British citizen for the past twenty years and has never been unemployed in the UK always worked.

But for the majority of the time he has not paid National Insurance as he only worked part time hours and still does.

Will they still be able to claim the New state pension of £175.20 or would it be a lower amount due to not paying enough NI?

Thank you.

My understanding is that you wouldn't have the full pension amount but you can add to it to bring it up to date.

If he earned over 120 a week it might not sure as contributions being taken off in his wage slip, but would be on as a credit on his P60. He needs to get hold of his record and see what credits he has. Go to gov.uk pension and it will tell him what to do.

Hi. Check pension entitlement on gov.uk website. If he can't do this online, there is a phone helpline. Future Pension Centre helpline. Telephone: 0800 731 0175

The lower level for NI contributions is pretty low. If he's never worked above that, how has he supported himself?

Some top up benefits also include NI credits towards a state pension. But if he's always been a low earner does he have money to pay a top up, if one is needed?

He needs to check his record in the government gateway and see what he can do if he's short. Can he increase his hours to get more credits from now on? Is he single or does he have a partner? Does he have other assets/savings/pensions arrangements? Does pension credit still exist, that will provide a top up, if he's on a low income post retirement? Does he rent or own his home?

The situation might not be as bad as you fear as a person currently 'a few years before retirement' has around 50 years of working life to amass the 35 years of NI credits required to get a full state pension and there are several ways to achieve this, that don't necessarily include working full time, but as there are so many variables, your relative needs to investigate this based on his own circumstances.

@AlwaysLatte

My understanding is that you wouldn't have the full pension amount but you can add to it to bring it up to date.

Not quite. You can only buy a maximum of 10 missing years, and go back no further than 6 years. So if OP’s relative has accrued 20 qualifying years in the years they’ve been working (I’m reading that as only since becoming a British citizen?) then there is nothing to buy.

OP, did your relative immigrate from a country with a reciprocal pension arrangement, and work in their previous country? That’s worth looking into as well.

Less likely as you say it’s a man, but did they revive Child Benefit in their name?

They got married and came to this country about 25 years ago and he got British citizen about 20 years ago.

He did claim some benefits for those periods e.g. child tax credit, child benefit etc..

Best thing to do is to check their National insurance record on gov.uk. Also the future pensions service are very helpful.,

@NEVERQUIT3331

They got married and came to this country about 25 years ago and he got British citizen about 20 years ago.

He did claim some benefits for those periods e.g. child tax credit, child benefit etc..

Was it him who was claiming child benefit? (unusual not to be the mother) If so, he will have got NI pension qualifying years credited to him if claiming CB for an under 12yo. Get the individual statement, and take it from there.