no income

I have re-read your original post, and you say that you think that most women of 62 will be in the same boat. I don't think that that's the case. Most women of 62 are probably working, living on an occupational pension if they have been lucky enough to be able to pay into one, or sharing responsibilities with the other members of the household.

Do you have a circle of friends of your own age? It concerns me that you may be a bit isolated, perhaps for financial reasons.

You could meet people in places like your local library (see if they run reading groups, or other social meetings), or check out your local Facebook page to see if there are other groups you could join. Things like knitting groups don't cost a lot, or there may be other things that appeal to you more.

Have you discussed your feelings with your husband? You say that 'apparently' your husband gets extra pension for you, so it doesn't sound as though you talk about money and how to spend it as a couple? Could you sit down with him and work out how the money you have can be spent so that both of you feel included in decisions, and have your own independence?

If that is too uncomfortable for you, maybe your sons would understand your need for independence, and be prepared to pay a bit more directly to you.

Under the new state pension rules that came in on 6 April 2016, you need a minimum of 10 years before you'll get any payment at all.

You'll need 35 qualifying years to get the full new State Pension. You'll get a proportion of the new State Pension if you have between 10 and 35 qualifying years. You have 20 qualifying years on your National Insurance record after 5 April 2016.

Source: YouGov July 2019

I'm not particularly sympathetic to the OP though, I must admit. So many of us managed to raise our families and worked full/part time too and we paid full NI contributions but still get our state pensions delayed.

Nothing has changed if you have children your damned if you do work and damned if you dont. However, in answer to the ladies question. Bringing up 5 children is hard work in itself. Most women (not all) who were able to go out and work usually had granny, auntie, neighbour to be on hand to help out with the children. Not everybody had that kind of support, I didn't and I could not afford to pay for childcare. We survived on one wage till I was able to return to work when my children were older. If you claimed Child Benefit your contributions would have been protected, so you must have something.If your husband had all the money and controlled it all, you really needed to tell him years ago how you felt about that. It should have been sorted out together. If, like myself you wont get a pension for years and are feeling the pinch, very soon the shops will be advertising for Christmas Temps. Why not have a look and see if there is anywhere youd like to work. Your wages go in your bank account. If you are unable to work for health reasons, you will need to go to whatever Benefits agency is near you and talk to them. I think it is shocking what has happened to women in this country with the goal posts constantly being changed re State Pension. For some reason stay-at-home Mums have never been valued. I don't understand why as bringing up the next generation is the hardest work you will ever do.

If you are available for work and go to your local Job centre you may be able t claim Job seekers allowance, however you do need to be actively looking for work. if you are too ill to work you should look at disability allowance.

Time to up the board that your children pay. If you have never contributed to a pension how can you expect to receive one? In fact have you checked online that you have sufficient contributions? I am sure you need something like 35 years to get a full pension.

I thought you said you had worked part time ? You had 5 children? I’m confused and somehow not feeling very sympathetic - I’m 10 years older than you, used contraception, worked, paid for child care and never expected to be handed money when I retired that I hadn’t contributed to( state and occupational pensions). I’ve only just finished working in fact.

You say that health issues have meant that you were unable to go out to work, so were you in receipt of ESA or PIP or any sort of Disability Allowance?
Is it too late to seek advice on how to manage your family finances?
In my mum’s day, my father was the breadwinner and gave her housekeeping money and an allowance, but that was 60 years ago . I would hope few couples operate that sort of system today.
As to your entitlement to a State Pension, if you did not pay a stamp I do not know whether you have the same entitlement as a woman who has paid NI. The years allowed for bringing up children apply only when they are minors which sounds like a long time ago. Have you looked into how you would cope if your husband predeceases you?
Finally, are your sons paying their way at home? Anything like a fair rent?
Somehow I doubt it.
I would look at that again and renegotiate with them.
You could have the money paid into your own account if that helped to give you a feeling of independence.
Of course if you are getting rent, that could impact pension credit or any benefits.
I think you need professional advice and if possible, a part time job for a few years.

NI credits are now only given until children are 12 I believe

I’m afraid I agree with those who think you should have been working for years. It’s not about the age at which you get your pension but about the fact that you should have earned it. You and your husband seem to have had a deal where he went out to work and you stayed at home. What happened about money when he was earning - has he always controlled the purse strings?

The thing is, though, that whether you work or not, you care for your children. As often as not, it is those who can afford not to work who stay at home, and they are then subsidised by those who can't afford to do so.

When the children are at school, neither working nor 'stay at home' mums are looking after them. I can't see why a 12 year old can't let themselves into a house after school and wait until a parent gets home (unless they are disabled, of course), so why should NI be paid to mothers until their youngest is 16? That could add up to decades, if there is a large family.

The trouble is that it is very difficult to find a way through that is fair; particularly as all of us, whether we contributed NI or not, made our choices based on the expectation of a pension at 60, and the rug has been pulled from under us.

We have two systems in the US - pensions for those who are unionized, including public employees (teachers, police, firefighters, city and state employees, etc.) - and Social Security for everyone else. The Social Security age has been raised to 67 here ! Pensions can be activated at any age but the monthly amount is calculated by years worked, highest 3 yrs. salary and age. I am a retired teacher at 65. I only had 22 years of credit because I was home with my sons until their dad left. It's enough to live on because I paid off the house working and with Medicare I still receive health care benefits at the same lower rate I had while working. I see others doing much worse and many doing much better and loathe the inequity. It also irritates me that caring for children is not given any priority other than the small amount given by the SS system to surviving spouses. The pension system gives nothing to surviving spouses.

Your DH may no longer qualify for Pension credit once you start drawing whatever state pension you are entitled to because DWP will add your pension and your DH's pension together and if the sum exceeds £255.25 you will not qualify for Pension credit anymore.

An example
Now: Pension income of DH +£200, Your income= nil. You qualify for PC.

When youreach retirement age'
Pension income of DH £200, You Pension income = £35.
Total income £235, You will no longer qualify for PC.

AS you will have contributions credited to you for the years you had children under 16(I think) plus unless your pay was very low indeed, paid NI contributions when you worked part time. You may be quite surprised how much your pension is.

A friend had work and life pattern similar to yours and she said her state pension exceeded anything she ever earned when she was working.

When you get a pension, open a bank account in your nake and have it paid into your own personal account.

I can't speak for WASPI; but I for one am not asking to be 'given' anything. I want what I have paid for - a pension based on 44 years of NI contributions. These were paid when I brought up my own children, and paid childcare out of after-tax income. I'm with Chewbacca in that queue .

I will be 66 when I get a state pension (never paid into a work or private one), and at the age of 60, I'm still working, albeit part-time. Are you able to work a few hours a week? I have just started a new job, which is only 15 hours.

If your sons pay board, are the bills high?

Could you maybe get a part-time job, just something to give you a bit of money and independence?

I don't understand why you seem to be expecting to be given money for bringing up children the youngest of whom is 20. What have you been doing the last 10+ years?
I realise that I sound harsh but I like many of us here, worked and brought up children too. Often on our own.

I've worked, non stop, for 50 years Lilylavender and I've still not got a state retirement pension. I've always paid full NI contributions, plus SERPS when they were "the best way to top up your pension", and I'm feeling pretty pissed off that I'm still having to work full time. If there are any "stopgap" monies going begging; I'm first in the queue!

I have followed waspi but cannot see gpvernment giving millions of women anything
No I have health conditions so would never be able to work. I only wver worked part time when jids were small. Eldest child 36 and youngest 20 so been tied to the home really other than part time. Never got free child care etc esp with th eolder ones. Never available then
I think we have done our share so need to have our pension now or at least stopgap money.

Sorry - I have somehow posted twice.

It is really wrong that they have moved the goalposts. It amazes me that it is legal, as we were all told that our NI contributions were for a pension at 60. I'm not a lawyer, but it looks very like breach of contract to me.

If anyone is unaware of it, there are Facebook groups you can join, and get advice and support. The ones I know of are BackTo60, and We Paid In, You Pay Out, both of which are fighting (on legal grounds) for restitution, and WASPI, which is explicitly not asking for a return to 60, but for a 'bridging pension' instead.

It's so unfair. I got my pension at 60. They should never have moved the goalposts.

I think that things like dental treatment and getting your rent paid are means tested, so yes, when you get your pension you will lose those benefits if your income is above the level at which you can claim.

I have no doubt that the cutoff point will be too low; but it isn't a pension issue, as it will also apply to people who are working/claiming other benefits.

My guess (and it is only a guess) is that the next thing to go will be credits for bringing up children. The government are insisting on calling State Pensions 'benefits', which is incensing women who have paid NI contributions as well as bringing up children, and see the pension as an earned right, not a n=benefit. I could be wrong; but I suspect that this is deliberate, and that if the Judicial Review wins (or maybe even if it doesn't) there will be two rates - a pension for those who have paid NI, and a benefit for those who haven't.

I think that things like dental treatment and getting your rent paid are means tested, so yes, when you get your pension you will lose those benefits if your income is above the level at which you can claim.

I have no doubt that the cutoff point will be too low; but it isn't a pension issue, as it will also apply to people who are working/claiming other benefits.

My guess (and it is only a guess) is that the next thing to go will be credits for bringing up children. The government are insisting on calling State Pensions 'benefits', which is incensing women who have paid NI contributions as well as bringing up children, and see the pension as an earned right, not a n=benefit.
I could be wrong; but I suspect that this is deliberate, and that if the Judicial Review wins (or maybe even if it doesn't) there will be two rates - a pension for those who have paid NI, and a benefit for those who haven't.

Have you never insisted on a joint account with your husband? After all you have done over the years, you should have access to your share of his money.

Are you working LilyLavender? (Although I appreciate that at 62 you shouldn't have to)

You don’t say whether you have ever worked or are indeed able to work now.
Would a part time job be out of the question?