Any advice appreciated

Theghoooost

Hello.
I'm looking for some advice regarding my father.
Basically he does not exist, Since the age of 16 he has lived a cash in hand working life. He worked all over the country laboring, Fruit picking, bar work, A bit of a hippy.He lived in tents, Canal barge boats, Hostels. He would pop to see us time to time and off he would go again. He was with my mum for roughly 6 years, Went their separate ways, Amicably. When he started to slow down at 60 he spent more time with us. My mum passed away and left me her house, Which he now lives in rent free. He is 65 years old now, He still does odd jobs, Gardening mainly but I see him physically struggling. He never paid a penny into the state, Never claimed a penny either. Is there any way he could claim a pension or income? Should I turn my toes before him and he's physically unable to work, I fear how he may live. Can I pay up his national insurance contributions? (He doesn't even know his national insurance number) I really don't know, As the years go on I worry about him more. Any advice on this would be welcomed.
Kind regards.

barnstar2077

Your best bet would be to go with him to where they deal with benefits in your town and ask them if they can help. They help people who only just arrived in the country and have never paid NI either, so I think they should be able to do something,

Think it would be better if he had just lived with family members all these years and never worked as apposed to having worked for cash. Not that I am suggesting that you lie to the government of course.

Dazed_and_confused

Is there any way he could claim a pension or income?

Who are you thinking he could claim a pension from?

He may be eligible for some form of benefit but I would think finding his National Insurance number would be an ideal starting point before engaging with DWP. Or maybe DWP can assist him in obtaining his National Insurance number.

You might be better posting about benefits on the Benefits and Tax Credits board.

Once he has his National Insurance number he can check his State Pension forecast on gov.uk. It may be a pleasant surprise. Might be horrendous. I would check the basics before worrying about buying additional years NIC.

xylophone

Re finding NINO

https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/local-democracy-and-elections/reg-vote/how-do-i-find-my-national-insurance

What was your mother's situation in respect of state pension?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181235/derived-inherited-entitlement.pdf

Re state pension forecast

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

You could try an appointment with CAB.

Are you in a position to leave your father the property in your will (or at least a life interest)?

Do you have a personal pension? Is it possible to name him as a beneficiary (or do you have other dependants)?