Widows pension

fiffi

Hi can anyone tell me why widows under 45 cant get a pension...

McKneff

presumably you have asked and been refused. Didnt they tell you why

fiffi

she didnt know!! maybe you get it when you reach the age......

margaretclare

fiffi wrote: »

Hi, can anyone tell me why widows under 45 can't get a pension?..

What kind of a pension do you want? 45 is too young to retire. Is that what you hoped for - the same as a pensioner of 65?

I think the basic idea is that you can work, the same as anyone else, whereas if you were older, and had perhaps been out of the workplace for many years, it would be difficult to get back into it. Under 45 means you potentially have another 20 years of earning-power.

McKneff

Have a look at this.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Bereaved/DG_10018684

seven-day-weekend

As Margaret says, you are probably expected to try to get a job. Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) is the Benefit to be on while you are looking for work.

If you are too sick/disabled to work, then Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and/or Disability Living Allowance Allowance (DLA).

Speak to a Welfare Rights Advisor at the CAB.

jamesd

fiffi, 45 is still working age and it's usual to expect to work for the following 15-20 years before retiring.

Some work pension schemes do provide for a widow's pension that can pay out for life, as do some for children until they are adult. Other than that there's life assurance that can be purchased to provide for the widow or a dependent widower. If a couple doesn't arrange any of these things then they are implicitly deciding that the surviving partner will go to work.