Missing National Insurance

caileagbheag

Hi I'm trying to help my partner sort out his state pension - he has been long term disabled (after a work related injury). He has just discovered that he has not been credited any NI and trying to speak to anyone has been a fools errand.  Future Pensions says it not something they could help with.  His work pension provider has nothing to say on the topic and he hasn't claimed work related benefits (he does have PIP).
Is there NI credit for people unable to work and if so how do you claim it? Any advise gratefully received.

elsien

 Did he not claim ESA or universal credit? Just PIP in all that time? 

If he had been claiming ESA or statutory sick pay, he would automatically have contributions over that period of time. 

How many years contributions does he have from the time he was working?

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions

caileagbheag

Hi
Thanks for the reply - thats what I thought.  He was told that pre PIP (Disability Living Allowance) he didn't need to do anything - I think when it transferred to PIP it changed but he wasn't aware.  Not sure who to speak to about it as everyone so far thinks its someone else's problem.  

poppy12345

DLA didn't include NI credits either. There's no automatic entitlement to any benefits, including those that include NI credits. You need to claim them yourself. When does he reach state pension age?

caileagbheag

Thanks poppy12345 - thats what we have found.  He only has 6 months to retirement.  I can't believe he never thought about it before but apparently before I met him he only needed told a thing once!   
Word to the wise check your National Insurance contributions - as it stands he will lose out on £140,000 (over 20 years) because he 'thought' it was covered.  We have 6 months to sort it out!  

Danien

I'm not an expert on NI, but if he's not been on a benefit that provides NI credits, I don't think there's any way to claim them retroactively. His only option if he could afford it would be to buy the NI contributions for the missing years. If he was only on DLA/PIP and did not receive any benefits that provide NI contributions those years then the other option for years up to 2010 is home responsibilities protection if was a carer for someone sick or disabled or if he had joint care of children but his partner received child benefit.

https://www.gov.uk/home-responsibilities-protection-hrp