State Pension Claim Form & Separated from Husband

texet

Hi,

I have decided to claim my state pension - I am eligible as all my NI contributions have been paid and are up to date etc

I have started filling out the online form at gov.uk and am now unsure how to proceed with regards my marital status.

I am separated from my husband though not divorced - we have lived separately for years and are not on speaking terms. In fact, I don't even have contact details for him anymore.

I have selected 'married' from the dropdown box as it says to select that if you are separated. However, on the next page it asks for my husband's details: I obviously know his name, dob and when we were married so I can fill out that bit. However, it also asks if he receives State Pension or Graduated Retirement Benefit. Actually I am fairly sure that he is not claiming any pension because I know that he never paid any of his NI contributions in his working life when he had his own business.
I also don't know his NI number (though that is optional anyway).

Why do they use my husband's details for anyway and how should I proceed?

Alter_ego

Perhaps so he can claim a (60%) pension on your contributions. I think that stops in April though
Proceed by filling in all the details you have. Put not known where that's the case.

Mojisola

texet wrote: »

I am separated from my husband though not divorced - we have lived separately for years and are not on speaking terms. In fact, I don't even have contact details for him anymore.

As you are still married, if you don't have a will, he will automatically inherit from you. He could also claim to be your next of kin and have the right to make decisions about your medical treatment, etc, unless you nominate someone else.

texet

thanks so much - is he actually eligible for 60% of my contributions?

Mojisola

texet wrote: »

thanks so much - is he actually eligible for 60% of my contributions?

You don't lose any money - under the old pension scheme, a spouse could claim their own pension based on their spouse's contributions.

jem16

texet wrote: »

Actually I am fairly sure that he is not claiming any pension because I know that he never paid any of his NI contributions in his working life when he had his own business.

I though self-employed people still had to pay either Class 2 or Class 4 contributions if profits were over a certain amount.

How did he get away with not paying?

texet wrote: »

thanks so much - is he actually eligible for 60% of my contributions?

Yes he would be if he doesn't have enough of his own.

texet

maybe he did pay it but didn't tell me - I am not sure of his circumstances - he always dealt with all of that without involving me. I know he had (probably still has) very low income though.

If I hold off claiming my pension until after April 2016 then will he not be eligible for 60%?

Mojisola

texet wrote: »

If I hold off claiming my pension until after April 2016 then will he not be eligible for 60%?

No, it depends on when he reaches State Pension age.

texet

he has already reached state pension age.

Mojisola

texet wrote: »

he has already reached state pension age.

Then he will have been able to claim a pension based on his own contributions or based on yours, depending on which would give him the higher amount.

jem16

texet wrote: »

If I hold off claiming my pension until after April 2016 then will he not be eligible for 60%?

I don't think so but check here;

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-through-partner/y

Why would you care anyway? It won't make any difference to what you get.