Entitlement to a State Pension

If you have a mental or physical disability which prevents you from working, you may not have a complete National Insurance record when you come to retire. Your National Insurance record is the record of National Insurance contributions you have made throughout your working life; these contributions entitle you to claim certain state benefits, including the State Pension. If your record is incomplete you will not be entitled to receive a full State Pension, but the contributions you have made may entitle you to a reduced State Pension. For details of the State Pension see The Basic State Pension.

If you have made little or no contributions throughout your working life, you may be able to claim a State Pension based on your partner's National Insurance record. If your partner has a complete National Insurance record, that is, there are no gaps on their record from time spent studying, travelling or out of work, you may be entitled to the full 'wife's pension' which is currently £52.30. From the 6th April 2010 you will be able to claim a 'wife's pension' when you are the husband or civil partner of someone with a complete National Insurance record. For more information on your State Pension entitlement see National Insurance Contributions and Claiming State Pension.

If you are single and disabled but you are unemployed and would like help returning to the workplace, there are work schemes designed to help you. The New Deal for the Disabled will take any limitations into account whilst assisting you with finding employment and promoting your strengths as an employee. For more information on the New Deal scheme, see New Deal for the Disabled. Working will ensure you have a better income, and entitle you to claim benefits as and when you require them, including a State Pension when you reach State Pension Age.

If you are not entitled to claim a State Pension, you should be eligible for financial assistance from other sources. The most common benefit for pensioners with a low income is Pension Credit. This is a benefit which ensures that pensioners have at least enough money to cover the essential costs of living, by ensuring everyone has at least the minimum income guaranteed by the government, known as the Minimum Guarantee. The Minimum Guarantee is currently set at £119.05 a week for a single person. You will be entitled to Pension Credit even if you have made no National Insurance contributions, providing you have a low income and are in need of financial assistance. For more information see Pension Credit.