Pension contribution

You can request from HMRC a report showing if contributions have been made going back to when you started full time work.

For the new unified state pension you basically need 35 years cont. for the full pension or at least 10 for a part pension, its basically paid as 1/35 of the full pension which is currently £175 per week increasing in April to I think £179, for most people the current age of retirement is 66 but that will be increasing to 67 then 68 in coming years.
You can also request a SRP forecast, and when the time comes you will need to apply for SRP 4 months before you retire. You can of course buy any recent missed years for around £660 per year.

One other question would be do you have any private defined cont. pensions and are you over 55 (rising to 58 eventually) ?

woodbine said: For the new unified state pension you basically need 35 years cont. for the full pension or at least 10 for a part pension,

It's not as simple as that because of transitional rules. Some people may need more than 35 years to reach the full new state pension.

zap42 said:

Thanks my question was is there a way of getting my contributions paid as I am 4 years short of the 35 but am struggling to see a time when I will be working again.

You can apply for new style ESA. You will fail the contributions requirements so will not be entitled to be paid but they should still do a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and if you are found to have Limited Capability for Work then you can get NI Credits on that basis.

However before doing that it would be worth using a benefits calculator to check whether you are entitled to any Universal Credit. Benefits calculators - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). You will have a basic couple allowance. If your wife cares for you and your PIP includes the Daily Living component she will be entitled to the carer element in UC which increases your maximum amount. If you declare your health condition when claiming UC then the WCA will be done under UC. If you are found to have LCW then the first £515 of your wife's earnings will be ignored (if you are not claiming help with rent, it is £293 if you claim help with rent). If you are found to have Limited capability for Work and work Related Activity then you would also get the LCWRA element after four months. On UC you would also get NI credits.

To claim ESA or claim UC with a health condition you will need a Fit Note from your GP.

zap42 said:

We have been turned down for universal credits due to wife working.  Work as an electrician is impossible with everything.  As for work elsewhere found it impossible to get a response for any application that was before this illness so now my availability is close to zero.

Looks like I will just have to try and make a reduced pension work.

Your circumstances have changed so your UC entitlement may have changed. I infer that when you claimed before you were a jobseeker hen you applied before you did not have a health condition limiting your ability to work, nor did you receive PIP. As per my previous reply you could use a benefits calculator to check entitlement. As previously advised if you are not renting and are found to have LCW or LCWRA the first £515 of the earnings will be ignored and you wife can also get the carer element for looking after you if your PIP includes the daily Living component.

You also have the option, again as already advised, to apply for ESA and, even though you will not be paid, if found to have LCW or LCWRA will get NI credits.