No state pension

Girlafraid

I've discovered that I only have 7 years of NI contributions, so was going to top up to the 10 required minimum, I spoke with future pensions helpline and they wouldn't even discuss it with me, because I cant remember the name or address of my last employer.. it was over 20 years ago, and i don't have any paperwork left from that time  due to a house fire., I've never claimed any benefits. 
Is there actually any benefits i can claim once at pension age if I don't get any state pension? Or am I destined to starve to death? 

sevenhills

Don't worry, you could end up claiming pension credit and get more than the full state pension.

JGB1955

Presumably you know your date of birth and National Insurance number?  How do you know you already have 7 years?

Brie

have you tried one of the benefits calculators?

Benefits Calculator - entitledto - independent | accurate | reliable

Why so few years of NI?  Have you looked at the state pension forecast as it might have some info there.  Maybe talk to HMRC about who you used to work for?  Though frankly I don't know why anyone needs to know who employed you 2 decades back.  

Brie

Also - how long until you reach state pension age and how are you funding your life now?

p00hsticks

Brie said:

Though frankly I don't know why anyone needs to know who employed you 2 decades back.  

I wonder if it might have been some sort of security question - if the OP is not currently and never has claimed benefits and they also haven't worked in 20 years then the details of this last employer may wel lbe the only information the pension service have access to to ask about to confirm the callers identity, even if it is a long time ago.

Alice_Holt

Information on means-tested Pension Credit:

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs48_pension_credit_fcs.pdf

OP - answering Brie's question would be helpful.  Want savings / investments do you anticipate at SPA?
Are you single or part of a couple?
If the later, then your partner's income may prevent a couple claim for PC. Therefore topping up your NI contributions (through work or voluntary payments, etc is sensible). 

Marcon

Girlafraid said:

I've discovered that I only have 7 years of NI contributions, so was going to top up to the 10 required minimum, I spoke with future pensions helpline and they wouldn't even discuss it with me, because I cant remember the name or address of my last employer.. it was over 20 years ago, and i don't have any paperwork left from that time  due to a house fire., I've never claimed any benefits. 
Is there actually any benefits i can claim once at pension age if I don't get any state pension? Or am I destined to starve to death? 

Try this: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/shortforms/form/DPU_SAR_NI?_ga=2.230026460.1544670040.1621021753-1315656139.1609178084

That'll give a full history of all your employers from the time you reached age 16. You might even discover you have some private pension savings somewhere, if you belonged to a pension scheme which was 'contracted out' of the State Additional Pension.

p00hsticks

Brie said:

Have you looked at the state pension forecast as it might have some info there.

I'm not sure the OP will have a state pension forecast available to them at present, as they aren't currently entitled to one because they haven't yet attained the minimum rewquirement of ten years.

calcotti

Alice_Holt said:

OP - answering Brie's question would be helpful.  Want savings / investments do you anticipate at SPA?
Are you single or part of a couple?
If the later, then your partner's income may prevent a couple claim for PC. Therefore topping up your NI contributions (through work or voluntary payments, etc is sensible). 

Key questions. OP must have some other means of support if they have not worked for over 20 years and have not claimed any benefits. I’m not clear why they think they may starve at pension age if they are not starving now.

Kim1965

Read Girlafraids last post/discuss ion Re jsa, back in 2015,