My wife's national insurance record

jamesd

Mnd wrote: »

Hi, according to the state pension website my wife has 41 years of full contribution but still requires 6 to achieve her full state pension

Six years still needed means that she was contracted out for most of her working life. Just about all central and local government jobs had contracted out pension schemes and so did most private firms that had more than a few thousand employees so it was very easy to be contracted out for most of a working life.

While it's a bit fiddly to track thnings down this is mostly very good news. Contracted out schemes tend to pay excellent pensions compared to others, at least for the number of years worked and the pay. Better still, she'll be able to get both these pensions and by getting NI years from 2016-17 onwards more state pension. Those not contracted out would get just the state pension bit.

If it does turn out that she can't trace a pension what will normally happen is that some time after benefits start to be payable the scheme will ask DWP to forward to her a letter inviting her to get in touch with them. Not all schemes do this, particularly not the armed forces ones. But many will.

There is also a plan to have all pension schemes provide details by NI number on a central site but that is still a few years away. A first version with only a few big private ones should arrive this year.

xylophone

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/71893292#Comment_71893292

post 2.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

James

I found how to check past contribution years and the help there to explains and gives a link/service you provided via the link I gave.

You are right there is a more direct link. I acknowledged that already and yes, we could all be clearer at times.

As to inferring things about my PM - I simple sent a note of personal encouragement explaining that my Mum had multiple pensions and to keep going and find all of them.

Your heavy censure may be technically correct, but feels unnecessary my end.

Mnd

Thanks for all your help. I have now sorted out a list of my wife's previous employment details, I will now contact the relevant pension funds.

jamesd

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

I found how to check past contribution years and the help there to explains and gives a link/service you provided via the link I gave.

Which of the links from the page https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record that you gave goes to either of the two I gave, https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/pensions-helpline-contracted-out or https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details . So far as I can see none of the links goes to either of them, though they can probably reached in two or more steps by someone who knows that they exist.