I’m 84 and don’t have a National Insurance number – can I get a state pension?

I read your column with interest state pensions for people over 80even if they have not paid national insurance contributions.

I find myself in a very strange position because I don’t have a social security number.

I am a British subject, born in West Sussex to English parents in 1939. I was educated in Brighton until I was 18, when I went to teacher training college.

There I got married and immediately after completing my course I went to the Far East with my husband, an army officer. I had two children there and returned to Britain in 1961.

I was a stay at home mum and as I had never worked I was not eligible for an NI number. In my ignorance I didn’t think I would need one!

After ten years of marriage, I divorced my husband and went to live in Italy. I married an Italian and again didn’t work. We moved to the UK in 1990 and have lived here ever since.

My Italian husband pays both UK and Italian taxes but also does not have an NI number. I have tried many ways to get an NI number but every time I am told that if I am not looking for a job I cannot get one!

My husband is now 91 and receiving his Italian pension. I am 84 years old and I think it is unfair that I am not even eligible for the basic pension. Does the ten years I spent with my first husband count for nothing? I wonder if you can help.

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Steve Webb replies: The special pension schemes for the over 80s are a little known part of the UK state pension system, and I am convinced that many thousands of people, like you, are missing out on what they are entitled to.

While most forms of state pension are dependent on the national insurance contributions you have paid (or in some cases the contributions of a spouse, deceased spouse or ex-spouse) , the rules are different for people over 80.

Once you reach 80, and provided you meet some basic residency rules, you can claim a ‘contributory’ state pension, currently worth £93.60 per week (plus 25p if you’re over 80! ).

In professional jargon, this is called a ‘Category D’ pension. You can read the rules about who is eligible here: Pension over 80: eligibility.

Please note that while the over-80s state pension is available to those who reached state pension age before April 6, 2016, it is not part of the new state pension system for those who have reached retirement age since April 2016.

However, the problem you have encountered is that even though you are not receiving benefits based on your Civil Insurance details (because this is a ‘contributory’ pension), you still need a National Insurance Number to receive a pension.

Normally you would simply apply for an NI number online via the gov.uk website: Apply for a citizen service number.

However, you told me that you had great difficulty applying for an NI number; Sometimes you were told that you could only get a number if you were looking for work, and other times you were transferred to a department that dealt with students. .

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard of people over 80 having difficulty getting an NI number.

As you know, I contacted the Department for Work Pensions on your behalf and after a few false starts we have now resolved the issue regarding your NI number and you have made a claim for your pension.

When DWP investigated your case they said: ‘Our priority is to ensure everyone gets the financial support they are entitled to.

‘We have contacted (name redacted) to start the procedure for an AOW application and to allocate a national insurance number. We’re sorry for the delay.’

I am pleased to say that you have now received a weekly pension, in line with the rules, and this has been backdated for up to twelve months, giving you a lump sum of over £4,500 in state pension arrears .

I would encourage anyone aged 80 and over who is not receiving a pension, or is receiving less than the amount I mentioned, to apply for a Category D pension.

Frustratingly, it is not possible to download an application form for the Over 80s Pension, so you must contact the DWP Pension Service to obtain a form that you then return.

For anyone who is already over 80 and does not have an NI number, DWP advises not to wait, but to continue applying for the pension.

Provided you meet the remaining rules (relating to age and residency), DWP will then start the process to obtain an NI number for you.

Because brand new claims can be backdated for up to twelve months, it is important to file a claim as soon as possible.