Widow's pension

[Gemonimo]

Does anyone know whether, as is the case in France, a divorced wife is entitled to a British widow's pension?

[Nell]

Is there any such thing as a British Widow's Pension any more. I thought it was abolished in 2001

[suein56]

[quote user="Gemonimo"]Does anyone know whether, as is the case in France, a divorced wife is entitled to a British widow's pension?

[/quote]

This pension was replaced by the Bereavement Allowance; there is some information here.

Sue

[parsnips]

[quote user="Gemonimo"]Does anyone know whether, as is the case in France, a divorced wife is entitled to a British widow's pension?

[/quote]

Hi,

     According to the Pensions booklet NP46, the following people whose marriages have ended in divorce can use their former spouses qualifying years instead of their own if their own give them less than the full rate .

      : those who had not reached state retirement age when their marriage ended and who have not remarried before they reach that age.

      : a person over state retirement  age whose marriage ended on or after 6 April 1979

 the record of the former spouse is substituted for either;

        all the tax years in your working life up to the end of the tax year in which the marriage ended or the end of the tax year before the one in which you reach state pension age.

or;    all the tax years in your working life from the beginning of the one in which you married your former spouse up to the end of the one in which your marriage ended, or before the one in which you reach state pension age.

      Your pension calculated in this way  will be paid when you reach state pension age or ,if later, the date your marriage ends

       All the above only applies after you reach state pension age.   Before that the bereavement payment arrangements apply--see previous post.

[Gemonimo]

Thanks everyone for your input.  It never crossed my mind that I might be eligible for any pension or allowance from my ex-husband insofar as he disappeared off the radar for twenty years, but even a mini-pension might make up for no child support for three children for twenty years.  Thanks again.