How do you claim your "stamp"?

[bedofroses]

My partner is very reluctantly in the process of winding his business up due to cashflow/economy issues and whilst he is dead set against claiming anything from the state we wondered how he could go about getting his "stamp" continued until he finds alternative employment.

Thanks

[redman41]

He will have to sign up at the Job Centre as Unemployed and then be credited with his NI Stamp each week.

[factor-fiction]

If he signs on at the jobcentre for Job seekers allowance they will pay his stamp (assuming he is seeking work) even if he isn't entitled to/claiming any benefit

[bedofroses]

Thanks. I forgot to mention he's in his early fifties so doesn't hold out much hope of being offered employment and is too proud to attend job centre meetings or be sent on courses etc. Will this be required just for claiming his stamp after he's worked all his life?

[redman41]

The only other alternative is to pay for his own Stamp each week and not have to atend the Job Centre on a regular basis. Rather difficult if he is not earning any money.
Best to swallow his pride and have the Job Centre credit him with his weekly Stamp towards his Pension !

[albaqwerty]

He must attend every 2 weeks to sign on and to keep a diary to prove he is actively seeking employment, Even though there might not be any.

Pride will not put food on the table when he reaches pension age and finds the meagre state pension will be affected by his lack of 'stamp contributions'

[sunny-dave]

If he has at least 30 years of 'stamp' (NI contributions) then he has got enough for a full pension under the current rules - get a state pensions estimate from the DWP site -

http://www.direct.gov...nforecast/DG_10014008


It may well be that he doesn't need to accumulate any further 'stamps'.