Small Stamp - State Pension if widowed?

MacMickster

I have just discovered that my elderly mother paid reduced rate NI contributions throughout her working life, so is only receiving a minimal state pension since she retired.

My father is now in poor health and likely to pre-decease her. She will receive half of his occupational pension on his death but I am unsure whether she will receive any additional state pension due to his NI contributions.

Any advice would be appreciated.

greenglide

If your father is over SPa then your mother ought to qualify for a pension based on his contributions.

How much is your "minimal" amount?

MacMickster

greenglide wrote: »

If your father is over SPa then your mother ought to qualify for a pension based on his contributions.

How much is your "minimal" amount?

She gets around £80 per week at the moment, and this is her only income.

I need to sit both parents down and discuss finances, which is a subject that they really don't like to talk about. My father is planning to revisit his will, with the intention of leaving more than previously planned to their grandchildren, but I am concerned that he hasn't thought through how little my mother will have to live on when he has gone.

xylophone

Your mother is currently receiving more than the amount of a Category B pension ( £69.50) based on spouse's pension contributions) so is receiving an additional amount from? See the statement she will have received last March which shows how her pension is made up.

See http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS19_State_Pension_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

for information on bereavement.

xylophone

And see also https://www.gov.uk/additional-state-pension/further-information