Question about pension

[ElfEars2023]

Would you get pension if you've never worked or claimed benefits? Just that really me and partner in a rough patch where I'm seeing a very bleak future with him. Hes 37 been together 10 years, he's worked a proper job for 1 year never claimed benefits has been unemployed the remaining. He's always struggled to find work and doesn't want the embarrassment of claiming benefits. I've had to put my feeling aside to appease him otherwise it's arguments where I look bad and selfish. So I've pretty much taken care of everything. We are getting older and I'm really dreading the future knowing I will never get that support from him. I know most will save leave him/ kick him up bum. But it's not that easy I've tried, it's very hard with someone who has a victim personality. I'm working full time and already we struggle somedays as it's one income, but I can only imagine how much worse it'll be on one pension. Thank you for listening

Just to add he lived with parents before we got together and from what I'm aware it was cash in hand odd jobs but no proper employment or benefits

No, you need 10 years of contributions to claim a minimum state pension.

If you’re talking about state pension he can check his NI record online. He will have been issued with a NI number when he was 16. Sounds like he won’t have many years and you need a minimum of 10 I think to get any pension. Burying his head in the sand won’t help.
I personally wouldn’t want to be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t take any responsibility for their finances.

He’s only 37. He has three and a half decades to sort out his employment, financial priorities, and to pension plan. At the moment he might be resting on his laurels because he knows he has the security of your income; if you break up he’ll have no choice but to sort things out. Don’t make decisions about your own life contingent on the pension plans of somebody who’s nowhere near pension age.

the basic state pension is £203.85pw. www.gov.uk says that if you have never worked and never paid NI you are not eligible unless you’ve been in receipt of certain benefits. Do you also have a pension with your employer?

And whilst you might not think so because you’re in the thick of a draining relationship, it really is “that easy.” He isn’t severely disabled and reliant on you; he isn’t about to hit retirement age next year with no plans. You aren’t the bad person for ending a relationship which is no longer working out and expecting him to cast out alone. Sometimes the best thing you can do for somebody is to make them face up to their own responsibilities.

You can get more info from the website and can also contact them

I know most will save leave him/ kick him up bum. But it's not that easy I've tried, it's very hard with someone who has a victim personality.

Too ‘embarrassed’ to claim benefits but not ashamed to sponge off you for the rest of his life? Or just realises that he might be expected to look for work and - god forbid - actually don some?

Doubtless his emotional blackmail hits the spot with you, but if you want to split from him you can. Ultimately it’s your choice. Would you rather be poor forever, scrimping by and supporting someone who is happy to drag you down with him? Or would you rather have a bit of short term unpleasantness but a future free of debt and worry?

You need to earn wages of around £6000 to qualify for a full year of NI credits or pay Class 3 (usually for the self employed but can be a simple as being an eBay seller) contributions of around £17 a week.

Any kids? He could get NI credits from the child benefit.

Tell him to get off his arse and get a proper job. You're not his Mother.
You are a good, hard working person and deserve better than this. Have some pride and some self respect.

This happened to a friend of mine. She spent years with a useless, lazy, unemployed waste of space and only kicked him out when she found him in bed with the next door neighbour.

Good luck OP and don't say it's not that easy to separate. It is.