State pension

johnnyett

My apologies if I am asking a stupid question, when I contacted the pensions office ( state pesion ) they informed me that my wife of 26 years could claim up to 60% of my pension based on my contributions, is this in addition to what I receive or is it taken from my money? Say my pension is 145 pw, does this mean she can get and extra £87 pw week on top of her extremely low pension of £100 per month, Due to low contributions, caused partly by previous husband not buying stamps when she worked for him, and my ignorance of the system.

molerat

She can choose to take a pension of 60% of basic sp based on your contributions or her own pension whichever is higher, it is not in addition to her state pension. It is not taken from your pension.

xylophone

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/state-pensions

"Under the current State Pension scheme, if you can’t get more than 60% of the full basic State Pension, you may be able to claim a higher amount based on your spouse’s NI contributions.

This could top up your weekly basic State Pension to £69.50 (2015-16)."

She is already receiving more than £69.50.

molerat

johnnyett wrote: »

....... her extremely low pension of £100 per month ......

xylophone wrote: »

She is already receiving more than £69.50.

I misread it at first, only £100 per month (or 4 weeks ?).

atush

If she is only getting 25/week, then yes she can claim more from your record- but it wont affect what you get- you will still get what was forecast ie 145

xylophone

I misread it at first, only £100 per month (or 4 weeks ?).

Thanks, yes.

In which case, as her state pension is under £69.50 a week then she should look at the information in the link in https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/state-pensions

And the OP continues to get his state pension calculated on his own record (not reduced by what is payable to his wife).

greenglide

But you don't claim it separately - you simply claim your State Pension and DWP will calculate whether she gets more on own contributions or using spouses contributions.

Are you both over State Pension age? She is only entitled to a pension on you contributions when you are both over State pension age.

Does she reach state pension age before April 2016? Otherwise the rules change significantly.

xylophone

Does she reach state pension age before April 2016? Otherwise the rules change significantly.

It seems that the OP's wife is already receiving a very modest state pension of £100 a month on her own contributions - presumably the OP has just become ( or will shortly become) eligible to draw his own SP?