I am in my early 30s and have an illness which has affected my ability to work full-time. I had to leave my career and work various minimum wage part-time jobs to facilitate this, with periods of not being able to work at all. I have 13 years of full contributions on my National Insurance … Read more
Robert Blake: ‘I went in with my eyes open. I was really aware there was a potential problem. I didn’t go there blind’ A self-employed saver snared by the baffling state pension top-ups system has won a £540 refund and received an apology. Robert Blake, 62, had grilled government staff on whether filling a four-year gap … Read more
‘I spent £21k on state pension top-ups AND deferred for five years, but saw no increase in payments’: Why did the DWP ignore his pleas for help? Saver spent substantial sum to boost his state pension by £25 a week But increase was missed off payments due to start this summer ‘I have found it … Read more
Please can you help a slightly confused retired teacher? I was born in February 1955. After 21 and a half years of full-time teaching in the state sector I took early retirement aged 57 in 2012 and since then have been receiving my teachers’ pension though the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. I have not had any … Read more