UK pensions, how do they work for married women?

[Ron Avery]

Daft as it may seem, I cannot find the answer to this question.

As it stands, women who worked and paid an A rate stamp are entitled to a old age pension at age 60, so presumably they get the single persons pension if their husband is not at the age to receive a state pension.  But what happens when the husband gets to age 65 and qualifies for a pension?  Does the woman lose her own single person's pension and they get the married couples pension or do they receive two singles?

 If the woman was on B rate stamp and has not been entitled to a pension in her own right up to husband's 65th birthday, it says that she gets 60% of her husband's pension, but is that if the husband has died?  If both people are alive at age 65, don't they just get a married couple's pension?

[Judith]

Ron

I think it depends on what and how many contributions the women has made in her own right.  I have paid all my life, will obtain a full state pension in my own right at 60, and will keep it for life.  Since I can get a better rate by my own contributions rather than piggy-backing on my husband's (which is where the married couples pension comes in) I stay with it.  I am not sure what happens if the husband has died, but some fraction of SERPS will come into it, and also whatever constitutes the widow's pension these days.  The definite answer will (should) come from the Pension service, which I have always found knowledgeable.  I agree, it is very confusing when they speak of a married couples pension - it too me some time to work out what would happen with us.  It is not usually made clear exactly what is meant by married persons pension, but it is (I believe) usually meant when the wife is using her husband's contributions to give her some pension when she does not have enough of her own, or when using his contribution will give her a better deal.

Sorry if I've repeated myself, talk to the UK pension service.

[Ron Avery]

Thanks Judith , its as clear as mud isn't it.

From the posts about back paying NI to get a pension at 60 sometime ago, we looked at this as O/H had paid a full stamp for nine years before changing to a B rate, so it seemed possible with another year's A rate contributions that she might get a pension at age 60 and with it an E 121.

However, when you look at the money saver website the original idea of paying contributions out of money owed seems to have fallen over and its not now possible to do what Martin Lewis was originally suggesting.  However, even if O/H can get a small pension at age 60, its not clear what happens to that when I get to 65 and get my OAP.  We will have to ask the Pension Service as you suggested.

[ebaynut]

Ron,

Don't know, but this might be worth investigating further.

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1045932/ShowPost.aspx

RH posted a very useful link to moneysupermartket. [:)]

[Ron Avery]

Thanbks eBaynut but that is Martin Lewis's site and its not as simple to back pay and claim as first suggested by Mr Lewis.

[ebaynut]

 

I fear that the muddy waters just get muddier and murkier when it comes to fairness and clarity for 'womens pensions and NI contributions'.[:(]

[Judith]

[quote user="Ron Avery"]

Thanks Judith , its as clear as mud isn't it.  Yes, they specialise in confusion. I reckon!

  However, even if O/H can get a small pension at age 60, its not clear what happens to that when I get to 65 and get my OAP.  We will have to ask the Pension Service as you suggested.

If your o/h has only paid about 10 years worth which is I think the minimum no of years which will give her <any> pension, when you get to 65 and get your pension, if by claiming the married persons pension (ie your contributions give her a better pension than she could get in her own right), you transfer to that, and she "gives up" her conributions.  What happens if you conk out first, I don't know, as it doesn't apply to me, so I haven't researched that bit.

[/quote]

In my opinion, the better Lewis's advice to take is Paul Lewis, who writes for Saga Magazine, and he covered this very aspect not that long ago, sorry can't say which issue, but you could look on the Saga Web site and see what comes up. 

Hope that helps at little, but like you, I am no expert!