Scared about lack of pension contributions. Is there anything I can do?

May I ask if you are on the deeds yet?

I believe you said you're not on the mortgage, but are in Hs will. I'm on deeds, in wills and trusts, but wills can be changed if I'm not mistaken.

I'd be on the deeds today, soonest possible.

The rest, I have very little understanding of, no patience to figure out. I'd call for help to sources other posters told you of.

Delila

I feel really uncomfortable about some intrusive and judgemental questioning of the OP’s life and work history on this thread. Fortunately most people have responded with genuinely helpful advice.

Agreed, please do not think you have to justify yourself OP

The OP has not said she was a stay at home mum (or had any other caring responsibilities) Cabbie, nor that she paid the ‘married women’s stamp’, just that she has chosen to take low paying jobs despite a decent education and has for the last 13 years been working under a zero hours contract paying wages below the NI threshold because she likes her colleagues, which she wants to continue. This is not comparable to your position.

If you have children, a stamp is paid for you because of the years you have not worked or p/t work..



You can find out what pension you will receive online....

Germanshepherdsmum

The OP has not said she was a stay at home mum (or had any other caring responsibilities) Cabbie, nor that she paid the ‘married women’s stamp’, just that she has chosen to take low paying jobs despite a decent education and has for the last 13 years been working under a zero hours contract paying wages below the NI threshold because she likes her colleagues, which she wants to continue. This is not comparable to your position.

I fail to see how the OP's situation differs from that of anyone else who does not pay tax and NI in their own right, but relies on a husband or partner to do so and sees it as covering both of them. One has chosen not to work at all, and the other to work in a low-paying job. Neither has paid NI.

Obviously someone who has a well-paid partner will have a more comfortable life financially, but unless the law changes so that one part of a couple can pay tax and NI on behalf of the other (ie twice as much as they already pay) the non-working partner is making no individual financial contribution to society. We all look after our children and homes, however little or much we earn, and regardless of whether we also go out to work, so saying that doing so compensates for paying tax just doesn't wash, and the option for a working spouse to pay double tax is not available, and is unlikely to become so, as far as I can see.

I don't understand how when I say that it is 'nasty', when you are now saying the same thing yourself. Bear in mind that I also said that IMO it is not 'wrong' for anyone to take advantage of the current system, just that I thought it ironic that anyone doing so could be judgemental about the financial circumstances of others in the context of the thread on which I commented.

Well said Doodledog. I'm astounded by some of the judgemental and obnoxious comments on here, especially when the OP can read them herself, after coming here for advice.

Serendipity22

If you have children, a stamp is paid for you because of the years you have not worked or p/t work..

You can find out what pension you will receive online....

If you work full-time while bringing up children as a single parent, does that mean that you can have two (or even three) pensions for those years?

LilyGransnet

Hi all

We think we made a mistake here so we're rowing back and undeleting the thread.

Well, I guess that the Mods had their misgivings too at the outset.

I have said before Doodledog, I see a big difference between someone with caring responsibilities who stays at home but whose partner pays plenty of tax and NI, and someone whose husband is apparently not well paid, and therefore will not pay much tax and NI but who nevertheless chooses, despite a good education and no mention of children, low paid and irregular work and 13 years on a zero hours contract. That is a choice for which the rest of us pay. It is by no means comparable to someone with caring responsibilities and a high earning partner. We shall not agree on this.

No, we won't, and that's fine. I would, however, be interested to know what it is that you see as the difference? You are right that it probably won't convince me, but I just don't understand why it is ok for someone in one set of circumstances not to work, but not ok for someone else to choose a low paid job.
Neither is contributing financially, and both are taking from the collective purse, in the form of education, health and so on.

I'm not being difficult - I just can't follow the logic.

I’m simply saying that in one case the wife does not work outside the home due to caring responsibilities but the husband is making a good contribution to the collective purse. In the other the wife apparently has no caring responsibilities and chooses to undertake low paid and irregular work whilst the husband is evidently not well paid and is thus making a far smaller contribution. That choice not to undertake better paid work whilst having no caring responsibilities is a luxury for which the rest of pay.

What about people who have inherited money and/or are property which they let out and don't need to work? They're still eligible to use the NHS.

Doodledog

No, we won't, and that's fine. I would, however, be interested to know what it is that you see as the difference? You are right that it probably won't convince me, but I just don't understand why it is ok for someone in one set of circumstances not to work, but not ok for someone else to choose a low paid job.
Neither is contributing financially, and both are taking from the collective purse, in the form of education, health and so on.

I'm not being difficult - I just can't follow the logic.

There isn't any logic, so I wouldn't fret about it.

No, I can’t see any logic, unless it is being suggested that there should be a minimum amount that one spouse should have to pay in contributions before the other can opt out of making his or her own?

Serendipity22

If you have children, a stamp is paid for you because of the years you have not worked or p/t work..

You can find out what pension you will receive online....

We had 4 children in very spread ages. I cared for them at home and didn't work outside of our home in their combined 40 years living at home. However, I believe BlushingSheep allowed she had no children.

Suddenly it's all got a bit serious

So you need to concentrate your mind.

You do need to find a better paid job and pay NI contributions and it would be best to use some of the money from the five figure sum to buy extra years of contributions.
You might even be able to save a little too.

There are a lot of things on the list to spend it on, all of which are because we're fairly poor on a month to month basis
All the more reason to get a better paid job I would think.

In reference to my partner's job, he gets a reasonable salary but there are other factors in play which means that the household finances are not a reflection of that. They are not relevant here and I only bring this up to say that the DH is paying his full quota of tax and NI.

ixion

LilyGransnet

Hi all

We think we made a mistake here so we're rowing back and undeleting the thread.

Well, I guess that the Mods had their misgivings too at the outset.

Yes, they thought I was someone else.

Callistemon21

^Suddenly it's all got a bit serious^

So you need to concentrate your mind.

You do need to find a better paid job and pay NI contributions and it would be best to use some of the money from the five figure sum to buy extra years of contributions.
You might even be able to save a little too.

There are a lot of things on the list to spend it on, all of which are because we're fairly poor on a month to month basis
All the more reason to get a better paid job I would think.

"So you need to concentrate your mind."

Yes, which is what I'm doing.

"it would be best to use some of the money from the five figure sum to buy extra years of contributions.
You might even be able to save a little too."

That's the plan.

I don’t think it’s the business of people on here to suggest someone get’s a better paid job. She’s given her reasons for staying in her present employment (although I don’t see why she should have to justify or explain that on here), so advice should simply point her in the direction of sources of help and information.

Norah

May I ask if you are on the deeds yet?

I believe you said you're not on the mortgage, but are in Hs will. I'm on deeds, in wills and trusts, but wills can be changed if I'm not mistaken.

I'd be on the deeds today, soonest possible.

The rest, I have very little understanding of, no patience to figure out. I'd call for help to sources other posters told you of.

Not on the deeds quite yet, no.
Still looking at forms and fees and whatnot.

BlushingSheep, I think you are doing the right thing.

You have taken the initiative and got your pension forecast and are aware of what you need to do to improve your pension.

I would also be waiting until probate so you know exactly what you will inherit and then think about your options, what to spend now and what to save.

You have said that you will seek advice at that point which again seems the best thing to do. They can offer options that you might not have considered yet.

You are weighing up options around strengthening your position re your house and when you are ready, you and your partner can process any paperwork.

My only advice would be to consider changing your job to earn more if your mental health would allow it. A job with fixed hours at minimum wage would offer you more security and pay NI contributions for the rest of your working life to maximise your SP.

Good luck

Teacheranne

BlushingSheep, I think you are doing the right thing.

You have taken the initiative and got your pension forecast and are aware of what you need to do to improve your pension.

I would also be waiting until probate so you know exactly what you will inherit and then think about your options, what to spend now and what to save.

You have said that you will seek advice at that point which again seems the best thing to do. They can offer options that you might not have considered yet.

You are weighing up options around strengthening your position re your house and when you are ready, you and your partner can process any paperwork.

My only advice would be to consider changing your job to earn more if your mental health would allow it. A job with fixed hours at minimum wage would offer you more security and pay NI contributions for the rest of your working life to maximise your SP.

Good luck

Thank you.

I think I know what I need to do now, and where I need to go to find out what to do next.

You're right about probate - I have a rough idea, but after solicitor's fees and whatnot, who knows? Losing your parents in such a short space of time certainly makes you think and reassess.

I am planning to look at my work options and see what I might be able to do. It's a shame there are no new opportunities at my current place of work. That would kill two birds with one stone, really.

I'm not sure this thread needs to be active anymore.

Thanks to everyone who was kind and gave me helpful advice. I appreciate it.

Growstuff i am not sure of all the ins and outs of it all. I understand also, that if for any reason people have had to make a claim for any benefits, a stamp is also paid towards their pension, once again, i dont know the full ins and outs. All this was told to us ( myself and DH ) whilst on a holiday !

Serendipity22

Growstuff i am not sure of all the ins and outs of it all. I understand also, that if for any reason people have had to make a claim for any benefits, a stamp is also paid towards their pension, once again, i dont know the full ins and outs. All this was told to us ( myself and DH ) whilst on a holiday !

I'm not sure if that's true of any benefits, but it is true for unemployment-related benefits.

If a person is signed on for Universal Credit (or JSA), he/she is allowed to work, but the benefit is reduced. I can't remember what the cut off is, but it's quite low. The rules have just been tightened and claimants have to show that they are looking for higher paid work. However, the "stamp" is paid throughout the whole process and counts towards pensions, but not other benefits.