Confused, am I entitled or not?

swingaloo

I have just turned 60 and over the years have always worked but for 15 years worked in the family business (and found out later that I had never had a stamp paid) so had no pension entitlement build up.

I then worked part tme while my children were at school and returned to full time work for 10 years.
I then worked part time for another few years and returned to full time again 2 yeras ago.

So, as far as I can tell I will only have had about 13 years when a full stamp would have been paid.

I then got a letter a couple of years ago saying I had underpaid the last couple of years and could make it up if I wished but I could not afford it at the time.

I have just been doing some clearing out and came across the letter agian and re read it. I noticed that it says you have enough credits for a pension but I dont understand how that can be correct.

I was married for 30 years then got divorced. Does this make a difference as I know women used to be able to claim a pension against thier husbands contributions?

I will ring them and see what they say but just wondered if the answer may be available on here.
Thanks

Zelazny

You may have enough credits for a pension, but it sounds like it won't be the full state pension.

I'm not sure of the particulars in this area, but one thing I'd be careful of is if you had no stamp paid, you paid no NI. Did you pay income tax for this time? As I understand it, there's no time limit on the taxman coming after you for unpaid NI and income tax...

jamesd

The requirement for a large number of years before you can get any state pension was removed a few years ago so now you'll qualify for some however few years you have. Given the time looking after the children that may also help, assuming you were getting child benefit.

Give them a call but it's probably not anything like as bad as you think it is.

xylophone

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/StatePensionforecast/DG_199902
Get a pension forecast?

atush

Did any of the years you worked for the family coincide with raising children (or even the part time years)? You get full credit for raosing children up 10 age 12 now, was 16. You also get 3 years from 16-18. So you might have more years that you think.

But SP age for women is not 60 anymore.

So you need to to the DWP website, find your actual SP age and ask for a SP forcast. Ask about paying for missed years but who knows you may have 30?