65 and no state pension

Illadvised

Why are women who never worked and therefore never paid income tax or national insurance contributions allowed to receive a state pension when I, who paid both of the above, albeit the NI contribution was 'a married woman's stamp' will not be able to claim a state pension until I am 72 as my second husband is 7 years younger than me? I was illadvised at 20 when I married but when I divorced at 30 received no contact to pay a full contribution, not was I offered any advice when I remarried to change my contribution. Although I had a child I only had 3 months maternity leave and have therefore paid a large amount of tax and contribution over the years. Friends who had large swathes of time off work for each child, paying neither tax nor contribution have had those years added to their pensions. I understand that this was introduced to be fairer to these women.Thus I have paid far more than many women but receive nothing and will receive nothing for 6 more years. Are other women in this situation? Do we have grounds to claim biased treatment from the Government?

noh

When you divorced you lost the right to pay married womans contributions therefore you should have been paying full contributions. Did you not inform your employer?
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/reducedrate/marriedwomen.htm#5

Illadvised

I certainly did, as a civil servant, they had to know everything. No contact was made when I divorced nor when I remarried which I also advised them.

McKneff

Have a look at my signature.

By the way, you should have been paying full stamp once you were divorced.

If you paid MW stamp after this you might be looking over your shoulder till your 72 if they start chasing you for the difference.

I too was ill advised, but it was my responsibility. I did start paying full NI but still didnt have enough contributions to claim a full pension and claimed from my OHs at 60%.

It is also your responsibility to have organised a private pension (and its never too late to start one)

jem16

Illadvised wrote: »

I certainly did, as a civil servant, they had to know everything. No contact was made when I divorced nor when I remarried which I also advised them.

What dates did the divorce and remarriage happen on?

Illadvised

I divorced in Sept 1976 and remarried Dec 1976, why?

jackyann

Yes, the "married woman's contribution" has to be seen in a historical context. It was recognised as unfair in modern times which was why it was stopped.
As for being ill-advised: that is why my mother (born 1927) campaigned for financial education in schools long before Martin!

I do think it poor that so many women were so ill-advised. However, if you want support in understanding how these things happen, then please do not berate other women (the "back to work" vs. the "stay at home" mums debate is stale & unhelpful)
I think you slightly miss the point about "having children & not paying tax etc". The "home responsibilities credit" introduced in 1978 was to recognise that women need a pension in their own right, and that if you stay at home to care for children (or are a carer for someone with disabilities) that you can have pension credits for those years. Although this is largely claimed by women, it can be claimed by men who take on the caring role ( I know men who have done this). You only get "pension credits" if you have children, are a carer, have disabilities, are unemployed etc. If you are supported by someone else and don't have any "official" caring role, you don't get credited.

Wendy Greengross (Age Concern) pointed out the unfairness of this. From memory, she has a twin, who had her children in 1968, whilst Wendy did not have children until 1978 - thereby getting full credits for her time at home with her children; so 30 years later one has more pension credits than the other. But of course, when rules change (which I think is why Jem asked) some people do miss out & some benefit.

I do think it may be worth checking whether you have any "home responsibilities" credits. I can't remember the rules for claiming them over 30 years ago! I have found the Pensions Agency very helpful in tracking things down.

It really is a separate matter to the old "married woman's stamp" which assumed that you could pay a smaller NI contribution, as you would be supported by your husband (something my mother told me never to rely on!)

jem16

Illadvised wrote: »

I divorced in Sept 1976 and remarried Dec 1976, why?

I asked because the rule change to abolish the Married Woman's stamp was in 1977. As you remarried before that rule change you still had the option of choosing the small stamp.

Jackyann has given you some useful info but it all boils down to your choices I'm afraid.

jackyann

Illadvised: I don't know if you are still following this. If you search the forum posts you will find a fair bit about this - but they tend to be on other threads.
I have long thought it fair if women in your position could claim half the couples' allowance; I don't know if there is enough momentum to lobby parliament.

The issues around the married woman's stamp were not as well publicised as they should have been; but it is true that the information was there. I think it depended on the people you knew. I remember some of my mother's "housewife" friends buying their own stamps at the Post Office, out of their housekeeping or casual "pin money" wages. You had to send the card off every year "make sure yer get yer own pension, gal" they said to me! I'm sorry many women didn't know "old gals" like that!