1<\/p>\n Those who take time out of work due to illness or\u00a0disability\u00a0can make up these years by getting National Insurance credits instead<\/p>\n This is what the state pays those who reach state pension age after April 6, 2016.<\/p>\n To get any State Pension at all, you will need at least 10 years on your\u00a0national insurance<\/a>\u00a0record.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those who take time out of work due to illness or\u00a0disability<\/a>\u00a0can make up these years by getting National Insurance credits instead.<\/p>\n Those claiming certain\u00a0benefits<\/a>\u00a0qualify for\u00a0these credits automatically, meaning they won’t miss out.<\/p>\n One of those is “new-style”\u00a0employment<\/a>\u00a0and support allowance (ESA).<\/p>\n You can apply for new style ESA if you are under state pension age (66) and have a disability or\u00a0health<\/a>\u00a0condition that limits your work ability.<\/p>\n You must also have worked or been self-employed and paid enough\u00a0National Insurance<\/a>\u00a0contributions, usually in the last two to three years.<\/p>\n But what many people don’t know is that applying for ESA can give you these credits even if you don’t get payments.<\/p>\n Steve Webb, a partner at pension consultants LCP and former pensions<\/a> minister, has warned that thousands of people who can’t work could be missing out on these vital credits.<\/p>\n He said: “The ‘credits only’ award has been part of the system for decades.<\/p>\n What are the different types of pensions? <\/p>\n “But information about it is scant, and people on DWP phone lines often don’t even mention it.<\/p>\n “Even if someone on the phone tells you that you aren’t eligible for the benefit payments, you should still apply to get these hidden National Insurance credits.”<\/p>\n “Not doing this can leave a gaping hole in your National Insurance record and leave you short in retirement.”<\/p>\n With new-style ESA, you can receive weekly payments worth up to \u00a3140.55, on top of the free national insurance credits.<\/p>\n However, the exact amount you’ll get will be affected if you get over \u00a385 a week from a private pension.<\/p>\n Half of your private pension income over \u00a385 will be subtracted from your weekly ESA payments if you do.<\/p>\n So, if you get over \u00a3350 a week from a private pension, you’ll unlikely qualify for weekly ESA payments.<\/p>\n But this doesn’t mean you can’t apply for the benefit and still take advantage of the free national insurance credits offered.<\/p>\n Steve said: “If you are unable to work because of\u00a0disability<\/a>, it’s vital to make sure you are claiming the correct benefits in order to protect your National Insurance record and to make sure you get a good state pension.<\/p>\n “It is only by claiming either Universal Credit<\/a> or what is called ‘new style’ ESA that you get vital NI credits.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Even if you’ve been told on the phone that you may not qualify because you or a partner has too much income or savings, you should still apply simply to get the NI credits.”<\/p>\n How do I claim new-style ESA?<\/p>\n YOU can claim ‘new style’ ESA online.<\/p>\n Once you’ve applied, you’ll be contacted by phone and told when to give the evidence and where to send it.<\/p>\n To submit an application you will need:<\/p>\n You can apply for new style ESA up to three months before your SSP ends.<\/p>\n To apply online, visit www.gov.uk\/employment-support-allowance\/how-to-claim<\/p>\n If you cannot apply online, call the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline on\u00a00800 055 6688.<\/p>\n How can I check if I’m owed NI credits?<\/p>\n Thousands are thought to be missing out on these NI Credits<\/a>, leaving them worse off in retirement.<\/p>\n Those on certain benefits qualify for Class 1 or Class 3 credits automatically:<\/p>\n For example, households on Universal Credit get Class 3 credits automatically.<\/p>\n Parents with active claims for\u00a0child benefit<\/a>\u00a0also get Class 3 credits too.<\/p>\n Individuals can transfer the credits that they got from registering for child benefits to their spouse or partner who is living with them if they have already paid a year’s National Insurance contributions.<\/p>\n If either you or your partner earns more than \u00a370,000, you won’t be eligible for child benefit payments.<\/p>\n However, you can still apply for the benefit to claim the free National Insurance credits it offers.<\/p>\n You can check the full list of people eligible to claim credits by visiting www.gov.uk\/national-insurance-credits\/eligibility.<\/p>\n It explains the circumstances where you’ll need to claim and when you’ll get it automatically.<\/p>\n How can I check for missing years?<\/p>\n If you think you’re missing National Insurance years, the first thing to do is check your state pension forecast.<\/p>\n You can check this through the government’s new “Check your State Pension” tool online at www.gov.uk\/check-state-pension.<\/p>\n The tool is also available through the\u00a0HMRC<\/a>\u00a0app, which you can download free on the\u00a0Apple<\/a>\u00a0App Store and\u00a0Google<\/a>\u00a0Play Store.<\/p>\n![\"English](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8bf3f9c4-8357-4d00-8dcc-cd6c11784594.jpg\")
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