Defer Pension - or not?

0rchidea

I was widwed 11 years ago, and 5 years ago my widows pension stopped and I was placed onto a reduced state pension of £80 per week based on my husbands NI contributions. I was told that would be mine for life.

For the last 3 years I have been in a new relationship with a widowed man due to retire next month, we have just discovered a one and only letter from the Inland Revenue 2004 advising him of a shortfall in his SP of 29 weeks 1998/2000, but it's too late to rectify now. He phoned yesterday and was advised to take a deferred pension, but they never/wouldn't tell him what his SP was worth currently. We are unsure what to do. He will be continuing to work for another year or so, but more part time (hopefully). His PP's are, as most, pretty rubbish and have come in less that half the original projections. I have none as I was always a housewife. Oh, and I have no faith whatsoever in IFA's due to having been very badly advised and losing over £50k on my nestegg!

1. Is it recommended that he defers?
2. What would be the position on the state pensions for us if we married?


We know the PP's are going to have to buy an annuity, though where we look for that is another question for another time.

EdInvestor

First he needs to apply for a state pension forecast to see if he should defer or not.

www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

Roughly what is the total value of the PPs? How old is he?

Both of you may be eligible for means tested pension credit.Have you looked into this?