Question?
How did family history assist me with applying for the state pension in the UK?
Why?
Having lived and worked in the UK for more than 10 years, the local authorities advised I had to apply! I am fairly sure I know the reasoning behind this but I’d only be guessing and that’s really another story.
Forms.
The UK forms arrived via the postal system. As required by the local authority, I asked the question “Do I qualify?”
I had also supplied residential addresses and some employment details but I was required to complete the 20-page application plus a letter and other required details. On reflection, some of the address and employment details were wrong!
Questions?
After reading through all the forms, the task ahead was huge. I had so many questions. Some of the terminology used was quite foreign but was very English.
I made a copy of the application forms so I could use it as a draft, write on it, and make necessary comments etc.. The question list grew as I turned each page. I’m sure you’ll get the gist of it soon enough. Some of the questions were fairly easy and others were not so without a lot of detective work. This is how my family history research became extremely useful.
I had a National Insurance number which I’d previously advised. It was printed on the letter I had received from the UK.
Deadline.
Oh, and there was a deadline which was even more confusing. The letter was dated mid-August, and the envelope I received was from Holland and postmarked a month later. Then, I received the forms towards the end of September. I had six weeks to complete it! So, I made a call to the UK to clarify – response – “Oh, don’t worry about that.” Ah, okay was my response.
Too Hard!!
Now comes the fun bits…
A. Please enter all the dates you worked whilst in the UK?
My first appearance in the UK was in 1978.
B. Please list all the locations where you lived in the UK.
Thinking cap on!
C. Please list all the employees you worked for in the UK.
Another thinking cap on!
Now, the fun one – if it hasn’t been fun already!
D. Please enter all the dates INCLUDING HOLIDAYS when you entered the UK.
OMG times 10!
E. Not over yet —> They wanted to know my Australian employment history too!!
Oh, what to do?
AND, I needed an original birth certificate AND any documentation that proved I was employed in the UK. This is where no comment is required! Remember they have by national insurance number!
So here we go from 1978 to 2023, I needed to dig deep. Sore head, Headaches, Memory trips – you name it, I am sure I had it!! How to answer all these questions plus fill in the gaps covering 46 years of my life.
How I Did It.
And, along comes family history – my history covering these 46 years.
First step, create six separate lists A through E.
I knew I had kept every passport I had been issued with – so a little help if the passport is stamped on arrival into the UK. Sort of sorts out D. Five to go.
Lightbulb moment – there were many! One of these was my CV – Yep, you guessed it – I had to locate older ones as not every job I had was on the latest CV. The long and the short of the story – I located old CVs that took me back to 1981 and this triggered the job I had prior to that – filling all the gaps for A, C and E – sorted.
The most challenging was where I had lived as in “B”. I found the additional information they wanted on original documents I came across when looking for other things that prompted me with addresses of where I lived plus old diaries, plus, plus, plus.
I’m sure you ask… “How many rabbit holes did you go down?” Answer: many – all triggering other memories.
Family History Helps
Being a bit more organized, I had old files, documents, photos (all dated by year) – you name it – They had been copied onto CDs from mostly my old computers. It made it much easier. Now to put all the additional things I found about me and add them to my family history database. It is my story. There are still some gaps but not as many as there were. (NOTE: This is yet to be done.)
Challenge.
If you were to ask those six questions of course minus the UK references, would you be able to answer them? By the way, I had started working in 1974 and I knew my first two jobs so that was easy!
Please, let me know in the comments: just a simple yes or a no.
Update.
I posted the application along with all the original documents as requested. The package was sent in a cardboard envelope and not the flimsy paper envelope that was provided. Tracking was available so I could see all the movements from leaving my local post office to its arrival at its destination in the UK. This all occurred within four days. Now, the wait starts. I have been advised that it could take between 8 to 12 weeks before I know the outcome.
So there you have it, how family history can help with finding information when asked…
Can you do that?
Ancestor Family 
I know my first jobs but I would say in the intricate detail you supplied, maybe I need to learn that particular skill
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