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sugar_daddy1237

Hi
Hope someone can help me. My mum was born in 1949
And when she reached pensionable age (2009), we rang the pension service to see if she would get any pension. Shes never worked as shes been a housewife looking after the family (5 kids). So for this reason we were told she could not claim a pension because she doesnt have any NI contributions. But they said when my dad retires, she could claim as well.

This year Feb 2017 dad reaches 65 so weve applied for him. Weve got the estimate back & its the new rate of £155. But mums name isnt mentioned anywhere.
Do we need to apply seperately for her? Or wont she get anything? Apparently rules changed last year but she was "retired" by then so surely she should be treated by the old rules. Can anyone please advise?

Thanks

sleepless_saver

She is best to phone the Pension Service and ask, but it is unlikely that she is entitled under the new system. See Age UK booklet.

It would be worth checking if they are entitled to any benefits e.g. pension credit when your father starts to get his £155 a week.

Torry_Quine

She must have some NI contributions if she was at home bringing up children. Did she not work before marriage/children?

That said the only people who can answer are the pesnsion service. Is she able to claim Pension credit now or is his income too high?

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/overview

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181235/derived-inherited-entitlement.pdf

See page 8 and for 2017 read 2016.

Your mother is the dependant and your father the contributor.

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

Your mother should contact The Pension Service.

xylophone

but it is unlikely that she is entitled under the new system.

See Page 7 and 8 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181235/derived-inherited-entitlement.pdf

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/514271/claiming-your-state-pension-through-your-husband-wife-or-civil-partner-apr-2016.pdf

Usually your new State Pension will be based
on your National Insurance contributions
alone. However, there are some situations
when you can claim through your husband,
wife or civil partner. This factsheet gives you
the details.
Find out whether you may be able to claim the
new State Pension through your husband,
wife or civil partner at https://www.gov.uk/statepension-through-partner

If the details given by the OP are put into the above ( mother married/reached SPA before 6 4 16/ father reaching SPA on or after 6/4/16) it says

You might be able to increase the amount of basic State Pension to £71.50 per week if:

your spouse or civil partner made enough National Insurance contributions before 6 April 2016
your spouse or civil partner was born on or after 6 April 1950 (this rule doesn’t apply to you if you’re a woman married to a man, or if you’re a woman married to a woman who legally changed their gender after the marriage)
One of the following must also apply:

you don’t qualify for any basic State Pension
your basic State pension is less than £71.50 per week
You’ll get the increase when your spouse or civil partner reaches State Pension age.

Therefore the OP's mother should contact The Pension Service to check her situation.

neilvw

and OP please come back to tell us what they say, it may help others.

zagfles

Torry_Quine wrote: »

She must have some NI contributions if she was at home bringing up children. Did she not work before marriage/children?

That said the only people who can answer are the pesnsion service. Is she able to claim Pension credit now or is his income too high?

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/overview

As she reached state pension age before 2010 she wouldn't get NI credits for looking after children, she'd get HRP which weren't credits but reduced the number of years she'd need for a pension. https://www.gov.uk/home-responsibilities-protection-hrp/overview

sugar_daddy1237

Hi all
Thanks for all the helpful tips. I rang pension services & they said my patents might be entitled to an extra £70 odd pound (as menioned by xylo above) as my mum retired before the new rules came in last april.

We need to apply seperately for her and include the original marriage certificate. This is a problem at the moment because we cant find it so trying to get a new one. I will keep you posted when we get further movement.

Thanks

sugar_daddy1237

Hi All.
Quick update. My mum finally received a response from the pension services this week (after nearly 10 months). They have given her the £70 odd a week & backdated it to the time my dad retired. So pleased for her.

Thanks once again for your help & i hope this will help others.

YIPPPPEEEE

xylophone

My mum finally received a response from the pension services this week (after nearly 10 months).

Oh crumbs! Like the wheels of God the DWP mills grind slowly....still, "result" as the young people say.:)