National Insurance Contributions

WillM1987

Hi everyone. I am a 25 year old living in Northern Ireland. I do not work due to my mental disabilities. I wanted to ask a question about National Insurance Contributions & Pensions. Do you need to pay National Insurance Contributions to get a Pension when you get older or do you still get a Pension even if you haven't paid them?

I ask this because I don't pay any Contributions. I am on DLA & Means Tested Income Support on the grounds of my Disability. It's pretty early to ask this since I am only a young man, but I worry down the line if I haven't made any contributions I won't get my pension when I get older. It might be a silly question, but I know nothing about it and it's confusing.

Also, what is the difference between a State Pension & Pension Credit?

Thanks again.

It's important that I know. I hope you can help me to understand. Thanks alot.

Torry_Quine

WillM1987 wrote: »

Hi everyone. I am a 25 year old living in Northern Ireland. I do not work due to my mental disabilities. I wanted to ask a question about National Insurance Contributions & Pensions. Do you need to pay National Insurance Contributions to get a Pension when you get older or do you still get a Pension even if you haven't paid them?

I ask this because I don't pay any Contributions. I am on DLA & Means Tested Income Support on the grounds of my Disability. It's pretty early to ask this since I am only a young man, but I worry down the line if I haven't made any contributions I won't get my pension when I get older. It might be a silly question, but I know nothing about it and it's confusing.

Also, what is the difference between a State Pension & Pension Credit?

Thanks again.

It's important that I know. I hope you can help me to understand. Thanks alot.

As you are getting IS then your NI credits are being paid for you just now. Your IS will be reassessed to ESA soon though.

Pension credit is the top-up you recieve if state pension and other income after retirement is insufficient.

that said it's a long time till you retire and there will doubtless be many changes to the system before then so my advice is just to relax.

jamesd

Those who don't work much are likely to be big winners from the proposed flat rate state pension, so you'll probably end up with £144 a week plus whatever inflation does to that. Plus the effect of all of the other changes over the next 50 or so years before you're likely to reach the age at which you're eligible for the state pensions.

You don't need to worry about your entitlement to that or the basic state pension under the current rules. Benefits for those with disabilities or who are unemployed include contributions to the state pension so you get them regardless. Just part of the welfare state safety net deal that any of us could end up needing someday.

If you are able to work and find work at some point, you'll also be able to top that up with pension contributions from workplace pension payments that you and your employer would end up making.

In addition to that there will also be means tested safety nets still for those who need them.

WillM1987

Thank you for the replies. Just a few more questions about your replies. So your saying since I'm on Income Support that I get my NI Contributions paid for me? Keep in mind that I get Income Support based on disability reasons since I couldn't claim for Incapacity Benefit due to not paying NI Contributions at the time. I have been on it alot of years. I take it everything is still the same for the Income Support that i'm getting?

It's weird, cause I never knew about that nor was I told... but I guess I was young at the time and never heard about it, since I was young and my mother helped me claim it.

But my question is since I am getting Income Support due to incapacity to work, that the rules are the same from what you told me?

Torry_Quine

WillM1987 wrote: »

Thank you for the replies. Just a few more questions about your replies. So your saying since I'm on Income Support that I get my NI Contributions paid for me? Keep in mind that I get Income Support based on disability reasons since I couldn't claim for Incapacity Benefit due to not paying NI Contributions at the time. I have been on it alot of years. I take it everything is still the same for the Income Support that i'm getting?

It's weird, cause I never knew about that nor was I told... but I guess I was young at the time and never heard about it, since I was young and my mother helped me claim it.

But my question is since I am getting Income Support due to incapacity to work, that the rules are the same from what you told me?

Yes as you get IS for reasons of Incapacity you are getting NI credits Remember though you will change to ESA

jamesd

Yes, you're fine and the state system will continue to provide you with that safety net for the remainder of your life if needed.

This sort of protection is one of the nicer things about this country.

WillM1987

Yes I know Torry, I change to ESA in June I believe. I take it the same rules apply when your on ESA too? I mean do you still get your Contributions paid for you when your on ESA?

Torry_Quine

WillM1987 wrote: »

Yes I know Torry, I change to ESA in June I believe. I take it the same rules apply when your on ESA too? I mean do you still get your Contributions paid for you when your on ESA?

Yes contributions are still paid on ESA.

When you say you believe you change to ESA do you mean that you've been assessed and place in one of the two groups?

WillM1987

Well, I believe when you were on IS based on grounds of disability they assess you based on the information you give them when you were claiming for the IS and you dont have to go and be assessed like you would if you were claiming for ESA the first time. It's different as I looked it up on the websites.

Torry_Quine

WillM1987 wrote: »

Well, I believe when you were on IS based on grounds of disability they assess you based on the information you give them when you were claiming for the IS and you dont have to go and be assessed like you would if you were claiming for ESA the first time. It's different as I looked it up on the websites.

Sorry but you will have to be assessed. You will be contacted and have to complete an ESA 50 form to determine if you are eligible. If that doesn't provide enough information then a face-to-face 'medical' will be needed.

Where did you get the idea that this wasn't needed and you would be switched over in June?

WillM1987

Actually, your very right Torry. Sorry about that. This is actually great news to me as I thought I was just gonna be automatically transferred over to ESA without giving my case as my psychologist believes with me that i'm not fit to work. I was worried I was gonna be put on the World Related Activity Group.

I got the information of the DWP Website. I would of sent you a link, but the forum is not allowing me since i'm a new user.

It may require more work, but oh well. I have my psychologist to support me. I am shooting to be put on the support group as my anxiety conditions are very severe and I get very sick when I get worried and am unable to eat... it's not a pleasant experience lol.

As for June, my psychologist called the Social Security to see when I was gonna be transferred and they told him that it will be in June.