How do I receive a full state pension ?

suela_22

This is my first comment so be patient with me! I retired in August and did not receive a full state pension I need to either boost this with a one off payment (if indeed there is such a thing now) or try to get some help or reply from the department of work and state pensions or somewhere please. I am bemused by the fact I never made any NI contributions from 81-'86 when I was married but after '86 did so, even though my situation hadn't changed? Can someone explain who I can get in touch with please to find out more about this. I have seen that women who have retired at a certain age should be able to get an increase or one off payment because they missed out when they were married and had children or is this completely incorrect.

molerat

Do you have access to your on line tax account ?

Firstly answer the questions below and we will be able to help.

Current weekly £££.pp amount received
Number of pre April 2016 NI years full
Number of post April 2016 NI years full
Years which show not full and prices

Are you in receipt of a work pension, if so was that contracted out ?

Were you in receipt of child benefit for those missing years ?  Filling those few years may not actually make any difference to your pension, responses to the above will help check that.

suela_22

current state pension is not weekly -  amount is monthly - £787.20
I am in receipt of a work pension from August 2023
I was not in receipt of child benefit for the missing years between 75 -79 and 81 -86

7 years full after 2016
32 years before 2016

75 -76  - £6.22
76-77 8 weeks no amount given?
77-78 none
78-79 £12.28
79-80 £104.00

80-81 £83.82
81-82  1 week?
82 -83 none
83 -84 none
84 -85 none
85 -86 none
Thanks for your help.

Vectis

To be precise, it's worked out per week, and you're paid every 4 weeks, so on a different date most months.

molerat

Looking at that detail you were in a contracted out pension scheme - the numbers don't work without a COPE amount - which normally means that only 30 years are useable.  If that amount is your current 4 weekly payment then I see a slight anomaly in the workings (back calculating shows a negative S2P amount) that may mean you could be on a new scheme starting amount so additional pre 2016 years could add to the pension. NI contributions are based on income, were you on a low income for those years ?   77-78 showing as "8 weeks" and 81-82 as "1 week" suggests some form of benefit being received. You would need to speak to HMRC NI helpline to find out if they have the reason behind those empty years. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/national-insurance-enquiries-for-employees-and-individuals

suela_22

Thanks very much for your information. I am now trying to contact Gov.uk but it doesn't give me an option to discuss this with them online? Do you have any information about trying to discuss the questions raised in the former email please?

comeandgo

Be careful not to price yourself out of any benefits by increasing your pension.  Getting pension credit can lead to other benefits.

xylophone

Be careful not to price yourself out of any benefits by increasing your pension.  Getting pension credit can lead to other benefits.

Her state pension is around £196.80 a week -  this is less than five pounds a week under £201.05, the PC amount for a single person.

The OP states that she is in receipt of an occupational pension as well as state pension.  It seems unlikely that this pension does not bring her above the basic amount of PC.

The OP's birthdate seems to be around August 1957.  It seems likely that she was  still at school in the years she turned 16/17/18 so three years NI "starting/youth credits".

I am wondering whether she  had a long course at university (holiday jobs only perhaps) and then married and did not work.

If she had children from 1986 onwards and was receiving CB, there would be HRP which would have been converted to NI credits in 2010.

Perhaps she started work once her children were school age.

This scenario could explain 32 qualifying years to 2016.

Presumably she then made NI contributions 2016 to her state pension age.

Her starting amount  for NSP was the higher of

Old Rules

NI qualifying years/30 x £119.30 (Full Basic) + (Additional State Pension - Deduction for Contracting Out)

Therefore at 6/4/16

£119.30 + (ASP - Deduction for Contracting Out)

New Rules

{NIQY/35 x  £155.65 (Full NSP)} - Contracted Out Pension Equivalent.

Therefore at 6/4/16

£142.30 - COPE.

Clearly her starting amount was less than a full NSP.

The seven full QY for 16/17 22/23  (last full tax year before SPA) would have improved the  SA by £31. 13.


Perhaps the OP's "COD" was higher  than ASP in the old rules calculation and reduced the new rules calculation to below a BSP?

OP, when you were working were you perhaps a doctor/vet/ other highly paid professional?

suela_22

Thank you so much for your help.
I am confused with the detail of information it seems so complicated and in  order for more help - can I send the above information somewhere on Gov.uk and request an answer please regarding my state pension? The quote: 'It seems unlikely that this pension does not bring her above the basic amount of PC.   'Does the quote mean I should be getting the full amount with a work pension now?
I was not a highly paid professional I was married to a farmer though maybe from '81 - '86 .  Was I not paying NI then until I had children in '86?

MallyGirl

you would only have been paying NI if you were being paid - or voluntarily contributing due to self employment

molerat

The only real option you have is to phone the NI helpline - in the link in my earlier post - as writing may take up to a year to get a reply.