Widows pension and co-habitating

mojos.revenge

Am I right in thinking that a widows pension will continue to be paid for as long as the woman remains single.

If she should move into a living together relationship and not marry can she keep receiving the pension.

Drp8713

It depends on the scheme. What pension scheme is it?

mojos.revenge

I am referring to the state widows pension, not a private one.

Drp8713

From HMRC website;

Widow's pension is payable weekly. It can be made up of two elements:
a basic pension, which is payable at reduced rates for younger widows
an earnings-related additional pension depending on the late husband's contribution record.
There are no increases for dependent children. The pension can be paid until the widow reaches 65 but if she retires after reaching state pension age (60 years) it will usually be replaced by the state pension. However the pension will stop if the widow remarries or payment will be suspended if she begins living with a man as his wife.

---

I would suggest that the last paragraph means a no to cohabiting

jamesd

The state widows' pension stops if the woman remarries. It is suspended for the duration of any time when she is living with another person as man and wife but can resume if that relationship ends.

mojos.revenge

Many thanks, best to know these things, although it does make someone else become financially responsible, which seems a little unfair. Maybe going down the lodger route would be the best move.

Cheers.

atush

It might not hold up in court if the two are sharing a bedroom.

Best to marry or live apart in your case. Unless the cohabitee is willing to pay the equivalent in rent. In which case you are covered.

mojos.revenge

It's not me, I am enquiring for someone else.
I don't think the male is in a position to financially contribute to the household.

The living together is for company not sexual favours, so I would imagine they will have separate bedrooms.

Difficult situation.

atush

Very difficult, but maybe the man should live where he is living now. On benefits or get a job. He can come round for tea everyday.

Dont think she should give up widow's benefit if she is getting only companionship. She can get that from someone who can at least pay their way.

mojos.revenge

atush wrote: »

Very difficult, but maybe the man should live where he is living now. On benefits or get a job. He can come round for tea everyday.

Dont think she should give up widow's benefit if she is getting only companionship. She can get that from someone who can at least pay their way.

The gentleman in question won't find it easy to get a job at 64, where he is living at the moment is rented, and the lease is coming to and end, and won't be renewed.

They are very fond of each other, and have known each other for some 20 years, I don't know what their long term plans are, she didn't think about the pension, it was me that thought about it. It seems an awful shame if two people can't spend the autumn of their lives together because of such red tape. I don't really think either of them could deal with the fuss. I might suggest they visit the CAB for advice.

margaretclare

I didn't think there was any such thing as 'widow's pension' nowadays. Do you mean that the lady in question is getting full retirement pension based on her late husband's contribution record?

If she remarries, she'll get 60% of retirement pension based on her new husband's contribution record.

They are very fond of each other, and have known each other for some 20 years, I don't know what their long term plans are, she didn't think about the pension, it was me that thought about it. It seems an awful shame if two people can't spend the autumn of their lives together because of such red tape.

Well, they can. There is no one - at this stage of life - telling them what they can and can't do. If they want to remarry, go ahead. If they're both living separately they might find they can live together as cheaply, or more cheaply, just by sharing all the costs and expenses.

DH and I got together in our 60s and married after his second divorce. We're still blissfully happy almost 13 years into his third, and my second, marriage.

I used to think - as patronisingly as young people often do think - that when older people got together it was only for 'companionship'. I know differently now. I fell in love at 62 exactly the same as at 17.