friends Basic state pension - help?

[Ethel Street]

If he can't find it on anything the 'last resort' is to fill in form CA 5403 and post in to HMRC and they will tell him what it is (if he has ever had an NI number). 

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-insurance-get-your-national-insurance-number-in-writing-ca5403

 

If he has never had an NI number I'd have thought he couldn't ever have paid any NI contributions. In which case he wouldn't be eligible to for any basic state pension at all, would he? I'm not an expert on this though.

 

Why would a GP's practice know your NI number? Surely it would have your NHS number? 

 

I wouldn't be too quick to tell HMRC he never filled in any tax returns but used to run a business even if it was 40 years ago! Stick to what's asked on form CA 5403

Edited January 14, 2020 by Ethel Street

[Ethel Street]

11 hours ago, HP Mum said:

 

What does friend need to do now?  Or how can I help?

 

 

What's been suggested already. Use the link in post #6 to find out if he has an NI number, then ( if he has one) ask for a pension forecast. The pension forecast form asks for details of spouse (including spouse's NI number).

[Ethel Street]

Your friend does seem rather vague about all his business and tax affairs. 

 

I still think the only practical way forward is to, first, use the form CA 5403 I linked in post#6 to find out if he has a NI number. Without knowing that you are just going round in circles.

 

If doesn't have one then he cannot get a state pension in his own right because he hasn't made any NI contributions - NI contributions cannot be paid without an NI number. If he does have one he can use one of the routes already suggested to find out his contribution record or contact the Pensions Centre directly to find out what his entitlement is. Find his Pensions Centre here: https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-centre

 

I found this article about whether a man can get state pension based on his wife's contribution record. Possibly seems to be the answer, but I don't know if your friend would meet the criteria.

 

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-7555243/Can-husband-claim-state-pension-wifes-NI-record.html

 

 

[Ethel Street]

Remind us, is he a permanent UK reident with a UK address? I assume so.

 

Is the savings account with a bank that also does current accounts?

 

 

Why was his current a/c closed?

[Ethel Street]

Did Barc say why they closed the current account?

 

Closed "ages ago". About how long ago?

 

Where's his pension being paid at the moment? 

 

Could he open an online current account with one of banks that only operates online? I don't know exactly how they work with ID proof but if they don't have branches they can't require new customers to go into a branch.

 

He has a UK address does he? I assume so as he has a mortgage. Is he on the electoral registe there? Does he have utility bills there in his own name as proof of address?

 

I can't see how Barclays could be forced to repen a current account they closed many years ago.