Thinking of getting Married - State Pension Query

More4Less · 27 December 2012 at 9:04PM

Hi, I am 64 years old and in receipt of the basic State Pension plus a few pounds extra for Additional State Pension or something like that!

I am thinking of getting married to my long term partner, he also gets the State Pension ++ a few small extras. Its not much but we can just about manage. Am I right in thinking that our State Pensions will be unchanged if we marry - we wont be forced to claim a married couple's joint pension which would be less than our individual ones?

Thanks for any help

margaretclare · 27 December 2012 at 9:15PM

There is no such thing as a married couple's joint pension.

You each have state retirement entitlement in your own right, that will continue. You'll receive your state pension as if you were 2 single people living together. That's what DH and I do, and we've been married almost 11 years.

What are the 'few small extras'? SERPS/S2P, or pension from former employment, that kind of thing?

More4Less · 27 December 2012 at 9:34PM

margaretclare wrote: »

What are the 'few small extras'? SERPS/S2P, or pension from former employment, that kind of thing?

Yes, that is right. Thanks for your help.

I got this from the Which Web site which made me think there was a married couple's pension.

'Full basic state pension for 2012-13 for a single person is £107.45 per week. Full basic state pension for a married couple (or civil partners) for £2012-13 is £171.85.'

bigfreddiel · 27 December 2012 at 10:03PM

More4Less wrote: »

Full basic state pension for a married couple (or civil partners) for £2012-13 is £171.85.'

a married couple's pension is where only one partner has paid his/her ni for thirty years plus

you've both earned your own so you're okay as a pevious poster said.

cheers

fj

Linton · 27 December 2012 at 10:04PM

More4Less wrote: »

Yes, that is right. Thanks for your help.

I got this from the Which Web site which made me think there was a married couple's pension.

'Full basic state pension for 2012-13 for a single person is £107.45 per week. Full basic state pension for a married couple (or civil partners) for £2012-13 is £171.85.'

This only applies if one of the couple does not have a state pension in their own right, for example a wife who has never been employed as was common many years ago.

(Or if their employment entitles them to less than the £64 extra in the married couples pension)

margaretclare · 28 December 2012 at 10:13AM

I got this from the Which Web site which made me think there was a married couple's pension.

'Full basic state pension for 2012-13 for a single person is £107.45 per week. Full basic state pension for a married couple (or civil partners) for £2012-13 is £171.85.'

I really wish the powers-that-be would change their terminology, because this is misleading and leads to this question being asked time and again.

Goldenyears · 28 December 2012 at 10:18AM

The Which website does explain it correctly, but then under the heading Joint Pensions goes on to muddle things again with:

Effectively, the non-qualifying partner receives reduced basic state pension of £64.40 per week. Where both couples qualify for full state pension, they receive this individually, getting £107.45 each- giving them a combined basic pension of £214.90 per week.

implying there is such a thing as a joint pension not received individually!

More4Less · 28 December 2012 at 9:53PM

Thanks everyone. Crystal clear now, can think about marriage with that problem out of the way.

Happy New Year to All!

Thinking of getting Married - State Pension Query

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