pension

[ann57]

Hi I have had RA for about 14 years and now on my second anti tnf - cimzia I am not paying into a state pension and wondered how my condition affects me having a state pension and if I should be filling in a form informing them have not been able to work due to health?

[helixhelix]

Hi there,

State Pension is based on your national insurance contributions which are usually taken off your wages before you get them, unless you're self employed. If you've not been working but have been claiming any benefits then you'll automatically have been given state pension credits. If you haven't been working or getting any benefits then you won't have been building up any NI contributions. It may not matter as you only need about 30 or so years worth to get the state pension, so depends how old you are and whether you think you'll be working again. Anyway, it's probably still worth checking it out, as can top up NI for a few years. Polly

[Beth58]

Hi Ann, as having RA will not affect your state pension as it's dependant on NI contributions as stated above by Helixhelix.

Use the benefit calculator (link below), you enter details of your circumstances and current income, it will tell you your entitlement to benefits including pension credits.

turn2us.org.uk/benefits_sea...

Good luck hope this helps ease your mind.

Beth xx

[Hidden]

Hi,

I had to give up working when my RA got worse. The Disability adviser at the Job centre advised me to claim Incapacity Benefit as that way my NI contributions would be covered for me. So I will get the full State pension eventually. IB doesn't amount to much money as it is reduced because I have an early retirement income but it was the only way I could safeguard my State pension. Hope this helps.

[Hidden]

Oh, by the way, if you have school aged chidren, you are covered for NI anyway, until Child Benefit stops.

[LavendarLady]

If you find you are short of contributions, you can also make them up. The DSS will contact you about that if they find from their records that you are missing one or two contributions. They contacted me when I was off work for 5 years and I made up the missing contributions. (I couldn't at the time claim household responsibilities as I had gone back to full time education again). LavendarLady x

[julieporter]

Hi

Try direct.gov.uk website - loads of info and useful contacts regarding NI contributions

Julie xxx

[ann57]

Thank you to everyone for your help much appreciated I know alot more nowx