Are you a woman over 60 who doesn’t get a state pension? Get £1000s back

stagey_2

Hi - I just read the first entry by Martin (from 2007) about if as a woman you've just paid NI under the 10yrs for a full pension etc - I paid the married woman's stamp until 1994, divorced and then remairried, so had to then pay the 'full stamp'. I've worked full time ever since (as I was before anyway) so that's approx 14 years and the government pension that I get is only £66 ish - how come if you've paid just under the 10 years but make it up - you might then get £80 + (I think that is what it said) why should I only get £66 - that does seem unfair. Anyone out there can tell me why?? thanks PS I should say that I am 63 and still working - cos I can't afford not too!!

EdInvestor

stagey wrote: »

I've worked full time ever since (as I was before anyway) so that's approx 14 years and the government pension that I get is only £66 ish - how come if you've paid just under the 10 years but make it up - you might then get £80 +

Unfortunately you can only pay up back years from now - a total of nine back to 1999. But you've already paid these years, so the option is not open to you. Compounding the problem is that you paid the MW stamp so wouldn't be eligible for home responsibilities protection if looking after children, which gets you NI years credited.

I agree the old rules were very arbitrary as if designed deliberatly to make it virtually impossible for a women to claim a state pension - except on her husbands record of course.

That's they way they thought in those days..

margaretclare

I agree the old rules were very arbitrary as if designed deliberatly to make it virtually impossible for a women to claim a state pension - except on her husbands record of course.

That's they way they thought in those days..

That's exactly it.

Remember, Beveridge in his 1942 report said 'she has other duties' which he then went on to specify: 'replenish the population'.

This was challenged at the time by a minority report by 2 women, Abbott and Bompas, but their view was ignored when the legislation was drawn up by the post-war Labour government. See: http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=189876