Pension and Divorce

cpwp

Hi,
Forgive me if I am asking a question already covered. I have read the threads but can't see this one.

My wife hits 60 next year. As we don't live together, is it better for us financially to be divorced as oposed to a married couple albeit separated.

She has paid full stamp all her life and currently quailifes for 97%.

bb84

There's probably very little, if no, financial benefit in terms of your wife's state pension in getting divorced.

Your wife is already entitled to a 97% basic pension as you have stated. If she is still earning, she may be entitled to 100%by the time she reaches state pension age. As a divorced woman, her own basic could only ever be increased to 100%, but there are so many factors to take into account. If you do get divorced and your wife becomes entitlted a couple % extra by virtue of your entitlement, it will have absolutely no effect on what you receive or will receive i.e. pension service won't take away some of yours to pay for hers.

Before you do anything drastic, it's worth your wife speaking to pension service on 0845 3000 168 and ask the 'what if' question.

bryanb

Do your contributions come into this? ie Will you be claiming in respect of her contributions? Not sure if this is possible, but why not?