Disability Pension Planning

OsirianTheGreat

Hello MSE Community! My name is William and I am 29 years old. I am unemployed as I have disabilities and get Employment & Support Allowance (Support Group) & Disability Living Allowance. I am here because I want to find out more about this Pension business. I have no idea how it works, but I did look on the GOV.UK website and found out a little bit about it.

What I found out was that people on ESA get National Insurance Contributions, I am wondering does this give me eligibility for a State Pension when I reach the Pension age?

Is there something I should plan more about getting a Pension? Is there anything I should be paying to someone to have a Pension?

I also hear that there is a thing called Pension Credit? What is that about and what is the difference between that and a State Pension?

Sorry, I am very new to all this and no nothing about it. Perhaps one of yous can help me out as I don't wanna be broke when I reach the Pension age lol. I just want to know will I be financially secure once I get older. I am a person who thinks about the future and I like to plan ahead.

Thanks in advance.

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/eligibility

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS48_Pension_Credit_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

OsirianTheGreat

Thanks for the links, but I was wanting to know do I need to do anything to prepare for a Pension or does the NI contributions that I get automatically mean that I will definitely get a Pension when the time comes?

If all else fails does everyone get Pension Credit? Even without any NI contributions?

molerat

Whilst on ESA you get Class 1 NI credits which contributes to your state pension entitlement amongst other things. Pension Credit is to top up the State Pension to a higher amount. The "new" 2016 full 35 year State Pension is set at that higher amount. As to what will happen in the future, 40 years time in your case, who knows.

OsirianTheGreat

Who knows indeed. I guess I just like to be prepared that's all. I do have an anxiety condition and I guess I worry too much, that's why I wanted to ask. Better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the information guys. As long as I don't need to do anything, then I am content with the credits I am getting from my ESA.