10,000s of women missing out on £1,000s of state pension?

radmm0

Hi all
Having watched Martin's show on ITV last night, I have a question about who qualifies to make a claim.
My mother-in-law is 83 this December, her husband passed away in 1993 at the age of 57. She receives a State Pension of just over £90/week.  Is she eligible to claim or is the eligibility only for husbands who were alive to receive their State Pension?
Your advice/help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
radmm0   

Pollycat

MSE posted an article about this just a couple of days ago.

Here is the link:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/married-women-missing-state-pension-boost/?_ga=2.103247936.1914053987.1602916341-1212315421.1602916341

whizzywoo

radmm0 said:

Hi all
Having watched Martin's show on ITV last night, I have a question about who qualifies to make a claim.
My mother-in-law is 83 this December, her husband passed away in 1993 at the age of 57. She receives a State Pension of just over £90/week.  Is she eligible to claim or is the eligibility only for husbands who were alive to receive their State Pension?
Your advice/help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
radmm0   

I too would like to know the answer to this.  I've read the link provided by Pollycat above but there is no mention what happens where a woman's deceased husband died before receiving State Pension.

My own Father died in 1977, aged 51 years old and never received his State Pension.  My Mother never remarried and received a Widowed Mother's pension for a while and then eventually a State Pension but only about half of the full amount.  Sadly she also died 3 years ago aged 84.  

DairyQueen

Quote below from Steve Webb in August 2019  (applies to widows who have not remarried before the date they reach SP age):

"Webb says the site explains how pensioners whose late spouse never reached pension age can still benefit from their NI contributions, and receive an uplift that adds hundreds or even thousands of pounds to their own annual state pension.

1) If the pensioner reached pension age before 6 April 2016, they can get:

a) A boost to their basic state pension up to a full basic pension based on their late spouse’s record;

b) Inheritance of at least half of the SERPS pension that the late spouse built up.

2) If the pensioner reached state pension age on or after 6 April 2016, and the spouse died before pension age before 6 April 2016, they can get:

'...A portion of their Additional State Pension and half their Graduated Retirement Benefit'."

The article explains that DWP should review the late spouse's NI record at the point that the widow claims SP.  However, this step could be missed if DWP wasn't made aware that new pensioner had been widowed.

radmm0

DairyQueen said:

Quote below from Steve Webb in August 2019  (applies to widows who have not remarried before the date they reach SP age):

"Webb says the site explains how pensioners whose late spouse never reached pension age can still benefit from their NI contributions, and receive an uplift that adds hundreds or even thousands of pounds to their own annual state pension.

1) If the pensioner reached pension age before 6 April 2016, they can get:

a) A boost to their basic state pension up to a full basic pension based on their late spouse’s record;

b) Inheritance of at least half of the SERPS pension that the late spouse built up.

2) If the pensioner reached state pension age on or after 6 April 2016, and the spouse died before pension age before 6 April 2016, they can get:

'...A portion of their Additional State Pension and half their Graduated Retirement Benefit'."

The article explains that DWP should review the late spouse's NI record at the point that the widow claims SP.  However, this step could be missed if DWP wasn't made aware that new pensioner had been widowed.

Thanks very much for your post & info DairyQueen.
I did think Martin Lewis may have missed something when there was no mention of widowers in his TV show last Thursday (29th Oct 2020).
Rgds.
radmm0

jem16

radmm0 said:

Hi all
Having watched Martin's show on ITV last night, I have a question about who qualifies to make a claim.
My mother-in-law is 83 this December, her husband passed away in 1993 at the age of 57. She receives a State Pension of just over £90/week.  Is she eligible to claim or is the eligibility only for husbands who were alive to receive their State Pension?
Your advice/help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
radmm0   

Did your mother-in-law remarry before reaching SPA?

radmm0

Hi jem16
No she didn't.
Rgds.
radmm0