State pension for over-80s with no NI contributions

Marcon

State pensions have cropped up a lot recently, with the mantra '...you need at least 10 years of NI contributions to qualify for any state pension' appearing equally regularly.

Not sure I've seen any reference to the 'Over 80' state pension payable to those who reached the age of 80 before 6 April 2016, which could be payable even if the recipient had made no NI contributions. 

Might be relevant for some, so here's the link with more info: https://www.gov.uk/over-80-pension

xylophone

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-13227391/I-want-National-Insurance-number.html


https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs19_state_pension_fcs.pdf

Category D non-contributory Pension

This is a non-contributory State Pension for people aged 80 or over (although you must have reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016). If you receive a low State Pension, Category D pension can top it up to £93.60 a week. This can also apply if you were previously not entitled to State Pension at all.

To qualify, you must live in the UK on your 80th birthday or the date of your claim if later and have lived in the UK for 10 years or more in any 20-year period after your 60th birthday. In some circumstances, you may be eligible if you lived in another EEA country.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Category D is one of the scenarios DWP are currently grappling with.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pension-underpayments-progress-on-cases-reviewed-to-29-february-2024/state-pension-underpayments-progress-on-cases-reviewed-to-29-february-2024

LadyBlunder

What mountains do I have to climb to apply? I have asked at Jobcentres - they never heard of this Pension; I tried ringing the numbers - no options for this Pension - tried one option hoping to speak to a humanoid, but no answer (after 30 mins of Hold Music); tried going into AgeUK for help - they've never heard of this Pension.
Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi

Dazed_and_C0nfused

LadyBlunder said:

What mountains do I have to climb to apply? I have asked at Jobcentres - they never heard of this Pension; I tried ringing the numbers - no options for this Pension - tried one option hoping to speak to a humanoid, but no answer (after 30 mins of Hold Music); tried going into AgeUK for help - they've never heard of this Pension.
Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi

Age UK definitely do know about it and it is explained in their "Factsheet 19" which has quite detailed information about the State Pension (Google is your friend 🙂).

I suspect this is a communication issue really, you are probably (inadvertently) confusing the people you speak to, or they just aren't very good at their job, the ones you happen to speak to.

german_keeper

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

LadyBlunder said:

What mountains do I have to climb to apply? I have asked at Jobcentres - they never heard of this Pension; I tried ringing the numbers - no options for this Pension - tried one option hoping to speak to a humanoid, but no answer (after 30 mins of Hold Music); tried going into AgeUK for help - they've never heard of this Pension.
Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi

Age UK definitely do know about it and it is explained in their "Factsheet 19" which has quite detailed information about the State Pension (Google is your friend 🙂).

I suspect this is a communication issue really, you are probably (inadvertently) confusing the people you speak to, or they just aren't very good at their job, the ones you happen to speak to.

More likely it's a complete lack of effective training.  

Marcon

LadyBlunder said:

What mountains do I have to climb to apply? I have asked at Jobcentres - they never heard of this Pension; I tried ringing the numbers - no options for this Pension - tried one option hoping to speak to a humanoid, but no answer (after 30 mins of Hold Music); tried going into AgeUK for help - they've never heard of this Pension.
Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi

I assume that you are already 80, or within 3 months of reaching that age?

It seems quite odd that a Jobcentre would have application forms for this, given that not too many people aged 80+ will be using their other services! You say you have asked at Jobcentres - you need to stick to the one nearest you. If they don't help, try a formal complaint: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure - but maybe it would help if you printed out the relevant page and took that in with you:https://www.gov.uk/over-80-pension/how-to-claim

If the DWP has been similarly unproductive, then again, follow the formal complaints procedure.

Might also be worth posting here so they are aware of the difficulties some people are experiencing - I'm sure you are not alone: https://www.independentliving.co.uk/advice/over-80-pension/

xylophone

tried going into AgeUK for help - they've never heard of this Pension.

Utter rubbish - see link in my post above (page 15)

See also   https://www.gov.uk/over-80-pension

You can get a claim form from either:

• your local Jobcentre Plus
• the Pension Service

The earliest you can claim is 3 months before your 80th birthday.

Get a claim form from the Pension Service

Call the Pension Service to get a claim form sent to you.

Telephone: 0800 731 7898
Textphone: 0800 731 7339