Hi, my name is Motzart! PIP and NI contributions

Motzart

Hi all, I am on PIP  and I have just found out that it did not pay my N I contributions which will reduce my state pension.  I was refused ESA . I cannot afford to make up the deficit of over £2,000. Has anyone else been in this situation?

poppy123456

Disability benefits such as PIP/DLA have never given NI credits. Have you checked entitled to Universal Credit? If you live with a partner you claim as a couple. If you have savings capital of more than £16,000 then you're excluded from claiming. You will receive class 3 credits from claiming UC. Use a benefits calculator to check entitlement. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=4fff9bdc-52fe-43fb-b5d4-b09f7b0b6862

When do you reach state pension age and how many more years NI contributions do you need?

Motzart

Hi thanks so much for replying. I will be pension age in June. Im/we are not entitled to UC. Its the 4years since I left work 2017 to 2021. 

poppy123456

Have you had a state pension forecast? You may not need those years. Check here. https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Motzart

Hi Poppy I lose about £20 a week. I was a Civil Sevant and our pension is smaller as they paid less N I contributions for us. My COPE ESTMATE IS £54 a week if I had not been contracted out. Doubt theres not much I can do about it.

ShirleyW

Motzart said:

Hi Poppy I lose about £20 a week. I was a Civil Sevant and our pension is smaller as they paid less N I contributions for us. My COPE ESTMATE IS £54 a week if I had not been contracted out. Doubt theres not much I can do about it.

There is a very good forum about Pensions and Cope and NI on MoneySavingExpert.  There are some very knowledgeable people on there.  If you post the details of your State Pension Forecast and ask for help.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/pensions-annuities-retirement-planning

Motzart

Thanks so much Shirley will do. You are a great bunch of helpful people.😊

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Motzart

I see you've had help already I just wanted you to know, I popped your post into our Benefits and Financial Support section. Incase there were any other queries you had. 

Motzart

Thanks sooo much Hannah, really kind and thoughtful of you.🤗

calcotti

Motzart said:

Hi Poppy I lose about £20 a week. I was a Civil Sevant and our pension is smaller as they paid less N I contributions for us. My COPE ESTMATE IS £54 a week if I had not been contracted out. Doubt theres not much I can do about it.

The COPE is only relevant to the calculation of your ‘starting amount’ as at April 2016 when the new State Pension was introduced.
https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/how-its-calculated

Unfortunately you should probably have challenged the decision to refuse ESA (I assume that you claimed immediately after stopping work but you were found to be Fit for Work).

Motzart

Hi thank for your reply. I left work in March 2016. I had jobseekers for 2 sessions after that and then tried to claim ESA. I mistakenly filled in the form for income based instead of contribution based (it might be the othervway round). So I got a letter to say I wasnt entitled. Then I learnt if you claim ESA within 2 years of leaving work you can get it. I was over 2 years then but rang up to say I had filled in the wrong details and could I claim it now. as I wasnt aware of this
The assistant was so rude. He said I would have been told the right way to claim and laughed and said to forget about it. He was so rude I told him if I had spoken to people  that way when I was a C S my boss would have had a word with me. I just let it go and then ESA was done away with and replaced by Universal credit for new claiments.  I got very ill with rhuemstoid arthritis, and osteo  late 2017. Sorry this is a bit waffley. Hope it makes sense. Thanks.

L_Volunteer

It sounds like an insightful rollercoaster for you @Motzart. How are you feeling about everything at the moment?

Motzart

Hi thank you. Yes I do feel a tad annoyed that I didnt pursue the ESA but the guy was so rude it put me off so I will loose out on my state pension. I just wanted to see if I could do anything about it. It has annoyed me but I have dealt with a lot worse so I will settle to it after being annoyed for a while. Thank you so much for asking  me it is very kind of you.😊