No State Pension

Paulsky

Wow.
Thanks everyone for your comments. 
My wife was born in 55, so official SPA is in Oct this year. The PS has sent her confirmation she will get no SP due to insufficient contributions. We would need to find 5 and a half years worth of contributions, so I'm afraid that's not going to happen.
Some of what has been said I have confirmed via other sources, such as UC continuing up until my SPA in January. Plus I'll be starting that claim next week, along with PC, as advised above. 
Many thanks to you all. I'm still following up some of the leads given. And I'll advise how we get on.

jem16

Paulsky said:

Wow.
Thanks everyone for your comments. 
My wife was born in 55, so official SPA is in Oct this year. The PS has sent her confirmation she will get no SP due to insufficient contributions. We would need to find 5 and a half years worth of contributions, so I'm afraid that's not going to happen.
Some of what has been said I have confirmed via other sources, such as UC continuing up until my SPA in January. Plus I'll be starting that claim next week, along with PC, as advised above. 
Many thanks to you all. I'm still following up some of the leads given. And I'll advise how we get on.

Why has your wife so few NICs? Did she pay the Married Woman's reduced rate at any point in the last 35 years?

Do you have children and could she claim NI Credits from Home Responsibilities protection?

jem16

jamesd said:

Paulsky said:

My wife reaches 66 next month, but has not enough qualifying years to have any state pension. I reach 66 in January and will have a full state pension. 

No. You both reached state pension age from 6 April 2016 onwards and for those after then that date ended the system where a person could get a state pension of 60% of their spouse's pension while both are alive.

Not quite accurate. if she paid the Married Woman's reduced rate at any point in the last 35 years, she is still eligible to claim a Catergory B pension based on her husband's NICs.

VioletRose_2

Do you have a pension forecast, you say have 45 years contribution's but you have to be prepared for the fact that you may not get a pension worth the full 45 years. Under the new rules those with NICs before 6th April 2016 get a starting amount, to get your starting amount they compare what you would have got under the old rules and what you would have got if the new pension had been in place all your working life and you get the higher of the 2. If your pension under the old rules (basic plus additional state pension)  is more than the new basic you still get the extra its called your protected payment but any NICs/credits you accrue after that date does not increase your pension, if its lower then any NICs/credits will increase your pension until you reach the basic or state pension age which ever is sooner 

Looking at 2 scenarios will make it clearer based on your pension entitlement on 6th April 2016  
A your starting amount is £180 a week due to your protected payment, any NICs/credit after that date will not increase that amount.
B your starting amount is £160 a week, any NICs/Credits will increase your pension until you reach the basic or reach pension age. 

I lost 4 full tax years worth of additional pension due to these new rules     

biscan25

Do these help you out all all? Can family members claim state pension ‘babysitting’ credits? | Tax Adviser (taxadvisermagazine.com)

Paulsky

Sorry for the VERY late response. 
My wife is now going through the process of getting her Home Responsibilities credits, though we expect it to take a long time, based on anecdotal evidence. Once done though, she should get a reasonable state pension. Thank you to everyone.

Marcon

Paulsky said:

Sorry for the VERY late response. 
My wife is now going through the process of getting her Home Responsibilities credits, though we expect it to take a long time, based on anecdotal evidence. Once done though, she should get a reasonable state pension. Thank you to everyone.

Most people don't respond, so it's great that you did, especially as it looks like good news. Very pleased to hear it and thank you for updating the thread.