State Pension

If I can find this thread by the time I managed to get through I will come back and let you know ?

Fingers crossed, Shinamae!

Maggiemaybe

Shinamae

And I have got 45 years!!I have tried to get through to them numerous times and I’m just told to call back another time (recorded message )If anyone has a number that I can definitely get through to them on I would be most grateful for it.. and thanks Pippa ?

Try this one, Shinamae - 0800 731 0175. It may mean hanging on for up to 40 minutes, but I never failed to get through. It’s Future Pensions, and they’re very helpful.

I will, and thank you very much. ? I don’t mind hanging on for a good while as long as I do get an answer but as long as they don’t say “oh I’m sorry you’re through to the wrong department!!!” ?‍♀️

To be clear, Future Pensions is a bona fide government department.

Shinamae

And I have got 45 years!!I have tried to get through to them numerous times and I’m just told to call back another time (recorded message )If anyone has a number that I can definitely get through to them on I would be most grateful for it.. and thanks Pippa ?

Try this one, Shinamae - 0800 731 0175. It may mean hanging on for up to 40 minutes, but I never failed to get through. It’s Future Pensions, and they’re very helpful.

It is especially complicated for women, even those who have worked most of their lives:
The 'married women's' contribution was dropped, but those on it could continue or change over
The credits for carers changed over the years
If you worked part-time, that may have affected payments.
SERPS payments changed, particularly for those in public service jobs

Turn2Us and CAB are good at helping you check your information and track down discrepancies.

It is worth knowing that you can buy a few extra years if that helps (you need to do your sums carefully)

I hope you can sort it out

my aunt used to get £150 a week . sadly she not here anymore . but it depends on how much tax you paid .

I tried to look at what my pension might be when I hit 66, signed up for Gateway etc then got to the supplying of proof of ID - need two of either Driving Lic, Passport or start of mobile phone or credit card contracts. I don't drive, have never been abroad and don't have a mobile phone contract (just an old payg) and heaven knows when my credit card started as I only use it for online purchases and they are few and far between. So as I know it will be a waste of time trying to phone them I am scuppered.
Hope you finally get hold of them Shinamae.

Just tried again,can’t get through to actually speak to a person it is so frustrating and they have the excuse of Covid, I’m sure it is a valid reason in many cases but not all, so many companies just now leave a recorded message which states now because of Covid They will not be able to answer the phone so please ring back later..?‍♀️

Just tried to set up a gateway account and it kept saying it wasn’t right ...?‍♀️....after four times I just give up and will wait to phone them.... I checked and the only thing I wasn’t sure about was when I last had HP I’m pretty sure it was about 15 years ago but that’s the only thing I can think I might have got wrong anyway I really can’t be bothered with that anymore...

Very helpful thank you very much .. ?....I did contact age concern a couple of weeks ago left a message and they said they would get back to me but they haven’t...

It is paid 4 weekly so we get 13 payments a year. (As far as I can see!)

That only applies to women who are on the old pension, I think. Since the changes, widows can't claim part of their husband's pension, although there are long-standing miscalculations which will result in back-payments for some. I think it applies to women who didn't pay full NI contributions when that was an option, as they could claim on their husbands' pensions.

there was something about widows too.
i think it only applies to people who have been getting the state pension for a few years.
in most cases the woman's pension should have gone up after the husband died. maybe just a little. if it didn't they should look into it. the experts said because everyone gets different sums, that's why this mistake wasn't noticed for so long.
www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/married-women-missing-state-pension-boost/

Are all the years 'full years'? If you have had gaps between jobs, or worked term-time contracts, for example, you may have missed a couple of payments and the year won't count.

You can check your record on the Yougov site. You need to register, which is a bit of a faff, but once you've done that, it's easy to see everything in one place. I am not yet at spate pension age, so I can't see mine, but I'd be surprised if the way in which your amount has been arrived at is not spelled out on there - you can certainly see your NI contributions at a glance, as well as how many full years you have.

Its 35 full years to get the full state pension. I have that, but will not get the full amount as I was contracted out.
I have two more years to go. I do my pension forcast every 7th April.

Shinamae Why not contact Age UK or Citizens Advice. They understand these things and often have dedicated numbers they can ring. They certainly did when i worked for them.

And I have got 45 years!!I have tried to get through to them numerous times and I’m just told to call back another time (recorded message )If anyone has a number that I can definitely get through to them on I would be most grateful for it.. and thanks Pippa ?

Mmm. The only other thing I can think of is number of contributions. You need 30 years for the full amount from what I can see.

I think you are always best contacting the Pension Service. As others have said, it's very complicated. It might be difficult getting through but they are very helpful once you do.

No Pippa I never had any private pension of any sort just the state pension

It's normally paid every four weeks Shinamae. I think there are other periods (not sure -someone else may know) but they seem to go for four-weekly.

where were

Just checked. The "starting amount" x 4 is £718.40 as you suggest. Where you in a contracted out scheme, paying into a workplace pension or personal pension? That will create deductions.

Is it usually paid four weekly then?.. I am afraid I’m a bit ignorant where this subject is concerned

Oh dear, I’m not really sure ?‍♀️