They're taking away all my pension!

SnowMan

abandhev wrote: »

The transitional arrangements won't apply to me, as I don't reach state pension age till 2020.

The transitional arangements do seem to apply to you. To quote from my earlier link

Women in scope for the RRE transitional arrangements will be those whose reduced rate election was still in force at the start of the tax year beginning 35 years before the tax year in which they reach State Pension age

In what way do you think you don't meet that definition?

Dunroamin

abandhev wrote: »

The transitional arrangements won't apply to me, as I don't reach state pension age till 2020.
The point being that my husband and myself both don't work anymore due to health problems. We worked out that we would just about be ok, when his state pension kicks in in 2016, and then mine in 2020, but now we won't get mine, we will be down by almost a quarter of the income we thought we would be getting.
With the way the gas and electric prices are going, and the fact that you don't get a reduction in your council tax, as your income goes down, it will affect us very badly.

I am going to try to get a job now, so we can put a bit away, and get some more NI contributions, but I am no longer able to do the work I have always done, due to my health. Not sure that it will be very easy!

What are you living on if you neither work nor claim benefits?

Dunroamin

Mojisola wrote: »

If you only had a couple of jobs, that would still leave all the other years you were claiming Child Benefit - from the birth of the eldest until the youngest was 16.

You won't be left without a pension - if you haven't got enough contributions in your own right, you'll be able to claim on your husband's.

Quite agree.

"Married women and widows cannot get HRP for any tax year in which they have paid reduced rate NI contributions – sometimes known as the married women's stamp. If however, they no longer have a reduced contribution liability, then they can get HRP."

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-1616017/Womens-pensions-Home-Responsibilities-Protection.html

abandhev

My husband took early retirement, due to health issues, and is therefore on a reduced pension from his job. We also had some savings that will last us for about 5-6 years. We are just about ok for now, but will be seriously in trouble in the future, specially if the payments we thought would be coming in, are stopped.
I ronically, my husband is also just a couple of months out, with regards to qualifying for the new higher pension - he becomes state pension age two months before the new higher payments will become payable.

abandhev

I have double checked with HMRC, and although I had 20 years with children, the few jobs I had, paying married womans stamp, have taken my years of stamps down to 7. I have rechecked this morning, so I'm sure that must have the right figures.

Mojisola

abandhev wrote: »

I had a couple of short term very part time jobs

abandhev wrote: »

I have double checked with HMRC, and although I had 20 years with children, the few jobs I had, paying married womans stamp, have taken my years of stamps down to 7. I have rechecked this morning, so I'm sure that must have the right figures.

You must have had a lot more than a couple of jobs then.

Have you looked at the link Snowman gave you?

abandhev

I did only have a couple of jobs, very few hours a week, but two of them were for 5 years, so that is 10 years that I paid the married woman's stamp.

Haven't looked at that link yet, will do it now.

On another forum, someone linked to a Mail article. This states that people in my position will still get the reduced pension from their spouse's contributions. I have not had that confirmed when I spoke to HRMC, though.

abandhev

Just realised, I did look at that link earlier - I'm afraid it goes completely over my head. Can't really understand it. I'm not thick, but just can't get my head round the jargon.

SnowMan

abandhev wrote: »

Just realised, I did look at that link earlier - I'm afraid it goes completely over my head. Can't realy understand it.

To translate the link they are saying that in your case

'They're not taking away your pension' :beer::j

CIS

Married women and widows cannot get HRP for any tax year in which they have paid reduced rate NI contributions

And if I remember correctly from when I used to deal with it the problem was that if you elected to pay it and ceased work then, unless you opted out of it, the reduced stamp resumed when you returned to employment unless the gap was 2 years or more.