Advice on benefit entitlement for my husband who took early retirement and is now unwell — Scope | Disability forum
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Advice on benefit entitlement for my husband who took early retirement and is now unwell

edwards30
edwards30 Community member Posts: 2 Listener
Hi advice please
My husband took early retirement at 56 and a half years of age ......wanted a break from work and attended the job centre for advice.He was told that unless he was  actively seeking employment he wasn't entitled to any benefits.He asked about keeping his n.i.contrubutions being paid and he was told he would have to pay then himself voluntarily. As we have never claimed benefits we were unaware he could sign on not take payment but have his n.i.paid for him.Husband health detiorated and we claimed disability benefits but not entitled as no n.i.paid in last 2 years .....I complained to benefits about bed advice and could it be reimbursed and they said no they did nothing wrong.n.i is now being paid by benefits due to husbands duality but we get mo benefits.If we had been given tbe advice to sign on and nit take payment his n.i.would have been paid and getting the benefit we are entitled to .....any advice 

Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    edited June 2021
    edwards30 said:..As we have never claimed benefits we were unaware he could sign on not take payment but have his n.i.paid for him...
    He would have needed to be actively seeking work for that to happen so, as he didn't want to look for work he hasn't missed out.
    edwards30 said:
    Husband health detiorated and we claimed disability benefits but not entitled as no n.i.paid in last 2 years 
    That sounds as if he applied for ESA which is contribution based and for people who have a health condition limiting their ability to work. Even if he had paid voluntary Class 3 contributions this would not have helped with claiming ESA. The relevant disability benefit to look at, which is not means tested and does not require NI contributions, is PIP (see below). 
    edwards30 said: n.i is now being paid by benefits due to husbands duality (I assume this should read disability)
    I assume this is NI credits on grounds of Limited Capability for Work following the ESA claim.

    Have a look at whether PIP is relevant.
    https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip
    Read the information on the link to make sure you understand how it is assessed and scored.

    Was he employed or self employed when working?

    Have you used a benefits calculator to check whether there is any entitlement to UC. You are excluded if you have capital over £16,000. https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,521 Disability Gamechanger
    At 56 how long had he worked for and paid N.I ? you can check this at gov.uk
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    woodbine said:
    At 56 how long had he worked for and paid N.I ? you can check this at gov.uk
    While important for future state pension entitlement it will not make any difference to benefit entitlement now.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • edwards30
    edwards30 Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    Thanks all he worked in full employment from age 16 to 56.paid full months till then .....ill try for pip 
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,521 Disability Gamechanger
    calcotti said:
    woodbine said:
    At 56 how long had he worked for and paid N.I ? you can check this at gov.uk
    While important for future state pension entitlement it will not make any difference to benefit entitlement now.
    Thats why I didn't suggest that it would. :)
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

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