Serps and widow's remarriage

mannicz

Hi all

My mum inherited some of my dad's SERPS after he died and is in receipt of the state pension, but now she is going to remarry. While this will not affect her basic state pension, will her co-habiting or remarriage affect the extra SERPS inherited from my dad?

Thanks

Nick

HellsGranny

I think she would be best checking with the Pensions Service. Off the top of my head, I believe she will lose her late husband's SERPS if she remarries.

Cheers, HG

noh

Best to check as advised above.
Contact numbers here:-

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_10011323

I think though that if she is already over state retirement age and in receipt of the serps pension inherited from her late husband then remarriage has no effect.

Remarriage would only be an issue if she was under state retirement age and was not yet in receipt of the inherited serps.

annberlin

I too am in the same position as your mum.Should she remarry then she will lose that portion of her pension which is based on your fathers contributions. I rang the department of work and pensions to make sure (sorry dont have the number to hand) and they confirmed that I would lose that portion which was based on my husbands contribution therefore took the choice not to remarry.She shoild also take into consideration that should her partner go before her without leaving a will then all the assets in his name will go to his children. Hope this helps:beer:

margaretclare

As a I'm widow who is happily remarried, you can guess that I think these are terrible reasons for not remarrying.

noh

The information I have found on the web is that if you remarry before retirement age you do not get the inherited SERPS if you are already in receipt of the inherited SERPS when you remarry you continue to receive it.

A reference is made to this in this newspaper letters page here:-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/dearliz/2790008/Dear-Liz.html

and in this archived Saga article:-

http://www.web40571.clarahost.co.uk/archive/saga/2009/20090801Works.htm

Also this age concern leflet sections 4.5 and 4.6

http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/Documents/FS19The_State_Pension.pdf

But again I would urge you to ask the DWP the specific question.

mannicz

Thank you very much for your help. This sounds pretty positive, as far as I can tell, as she is over the retirement age and has been receiving the inherited SERPS since 2007. I'll let everyone know what I find out from the pensions service.
Thanks again
Nick