Probably really messed up. Need advice.

Saladmuncher

I had a career and lost it due to ill health and several surgeries and resultant problems.

Since then I've been unwell and in hospital numerous times. This has been going on for many years now. My health has been badly affected.

Tried to work as self-employed as I want to work but earnt a severely low income.

Just been looking into pensions and found out about NI contributions and basically my record is awful - lots of gaps. Was fine until the career loss and then awful. Highly concerned about the future.

State pension is £241.30 per week.

But pension credit is £238 per week.

It's £14.30 per month less.

Am I missing something here?

If I pay a lot of money to try to top up the maximum number of NI payments and gaps (I think I can do a maximum of six years now) - which I haven't actually got the money for right now but it's something I'd look to save for and try in the future, before April, then I MAY get more of an entitlement to state pension.

But the amount is topped up ANYWAY with pension credit to the £238 per week?

Should I just leave the gaps as they are?

The frustrating thing is that I wrote on the form that I wanted to pay voluntary NI and actually thought I had been paying voluntary Class 2 contributions all along, but it appears not.

I have not claimed any benefits and tried to live on a very small amount of money instead.

So didn't get any NI credits.

Thoughts?

Also I'm trying to look into better paying jobs at a rapid rate but my health is terrible so it's been difficult. The cost of everything has gone up massively and it's just a struggle. Food up 50% since 2021 and gas and electricity up 90-100% since 2021. It's crazy.

tacpot12

Do you have any other pensions from earlier employments?

Storcko14

Pension Credit is intended as a top-up rather than in addition to whatever SP you are eligible for. So if your SP was £200 a week and that was all you had coming in, you would, all else being equal, get a top-up of £38 a week. Savings over £10k would also reduce this.

Given you have health issues it might be worth looking into disability benefits. Some of these are passport benefits to others so maybe worth a look.

It could also be worth using the pension tracing service if you think you might have had a workplace pension previously

https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details

MallyGirl

pension credit is the fallback when you have nothing else. If you have old work pensions that take you above PC amount then you wouldn't get it but you would still get the state pension as that is not means tested

Silvertabby

Being in receipt of Pension Credit may entitle you to other means tested benefits, the value of which could take you well over £238 per week.

Baldytyke88

"State pension is £241.30 per week/But pension credit is £238 per week."

Many people will have bought their own house and saved so they need less to live on, but if you haven't you could still apply for housing benefit.

Pollycat

You don't mention your age but there's not a lot of point looking into pension credit entitlement until you are approaching state pension age.

Pension Credit may not even be a benefit when you reach retirement.

The suggestion to look into disability benefits is a good one.

Benefits and financial support if you're disabled or have a health condition - GOV.UK

Suzycoll

Sorry to hear of your predicament

May I suggest you make a claim for ESA - you will need a sick paper for this. Please look into claiming benefits.

Without knowing your age & income it's difficult to comment

Try the benefit calculator

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

elsien

if you haven’t done so, also look to see whether you might be able to claim PIP. It is not being tested so you can still claim it whether you are in work or not if you are eligible..