State Pension for married couple

parcival

Sorry if this has been asked 100 times before but I would like a definate answer.

Both my wife and I will reach state retirement age in about 15 years. Our retirement age is 65 for both.

We have both got the 30 year qualifying NI record through working (ie no credits or anything strange).

Question is will we both get an individual state pension (currently about £95 each I think) or will it be some form of married persons pension.

Thanks

seven-day-weekend

If you both have thirty qualifying years you will both get a full State Pension plus any associated S2P (formerly known as SERPS).

The 'married persons' pension' is a bit of a misnomer. It usually refers to a wife who does not have enough qualifying years in her own right claiming a 60% pension based upon her husband's contributions.

bob_a_builder

thanks for clarifying that I was similarly confused.

individual state pension (currently about £95 each I think)

you can get a statement online, have to jump thru a few hoops though
HERE

margaretclare

You each get £95.25 if you've both paid in the required number of years. That's definite!

In addition, you could each get SERPS/S2P.

However, I am not surprised there is still confusion. I got this from the directgov website: "In 2009-2010, the full basic State Pension is £95.25 a week for a single person and £152.30 a week for a couple, but your individual circumstances may affect the amount you get." See http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/Basicstatepension/DG_10014671

So it seems that even a website set up to give definitive up-to-date information is still living in the past!!

sleepless_saver

margaretclare wrote: »

You each get £95.25 if you've both paid in the required number of years. That's definite!

In addition, you could each get SERPS/S2P.

However, I am not surprised there is still confusion. I got this from the directgov website: "In 2009-2010, the full basic State Pension is £95.25 a week for a single person and £152.30 a week for a couple, but your individual circumstances may affect the amount you get." See http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/Basicstatepension/DG_10014671

So it seems that even a website set up to give definitive up-to-date information is still living in the past!!

The figure for a couple is where the wife is relying on the husband's NI contributions so she would get £57.05 on top of the £95.25 for him. Obviously better if you can have your own £95.25 but not everyone is in that position.

seven-day-weekend

sleepless_saver wrote: »

The figure for a couple is where the wife is relying on the husband's NI contributions so she would get £57.05 on top of the £95.25 for him. Obviously better if you can have your own £95.25 but not everyone is in that position.

Yes, but I think the point is that the direct.gov.uk website implies that you get the £152 a week if you are a couple and this is innaccurate, as it is only where the wife does not have a pension in her own right that this amount is paid (and then the husband gets his £95 and the woman her £57, not one amount combined as suggested on the website).

It is confusing and misleading and should be worded more succintly.

i.e' If you have enough qualifying years in your own right, you will get a full pension in your own right, regardless of marital status.

If you are a married woman who has not built up enough qualifying years to get a full Pension, then you can claim a 60% Pension based on your husband's NI records.'

Simple and much more accurate.

margaretclare

sleepless_saver wrote: »

The figure for a couple is where the wife is relying on the husband's NI contributions so she would get £57.05 on top of the £95.25 for him. Obviously better if you can have your own £95.25 but not everyone is in that position.

I realise that, but the OP and his wife have both got the qualifying years in. That was made clear in post #1.