Would spouse get state pension?

gravlax

If one spouse outlives the other, does the wife get any or all her husband's state pension? Both on target for the full 'new State Pension' approx £180 pw with another 5 years and 15 years NI contributions to make.

NedS

No, there is no provision to pass on the new sate pension to a spouse. The current new state pension dies with the person.

molerat

The only inheritance provision where both are under the new pension, and that will not apply in your case, is to pass on half the protected amount which is the amount above the new pension maximum.

gravlax

molerat said:

The only inheritance provision where both are under the new pension, and that will not apply in your case, is to pass on half the protected amount which is the amount above the new pension maximum.

I have seen other references to 'above the new maximum state pension'. It sounds like a contradiction. The maximum SP requires 35 years NI, and the SP forecast says approx £180 pw 'is the most you can get'. So how can a State Pension be 'above the maximum' - that would mean 35 years NI / £180 is not the maximum? Also 'protected' amount? What's that about?, Isn't the SP bassd on NI contributions guaranteed ('protected') for everyone?

NoMore

gravlax said:

molerat said:

The only inheritance provision where both are under the new pension, and that will not apply in your case, is to pass on half the protected amount which is the amount above the new pension maximum.

I have seen other references to 'above the new maximum state pension'. It sounds like a contradiction. The maximum SP requires 35 years NI, and the SP forecast says approx £180 pw 'is the most you can get'. So how can a State Pension be 'above the maximum' - that would mean 35 years NI / £180 is not the maximum? Also 'protected' amount? What's that about?, Isn't the SP bassd on NI contributions guaranteed ('protected') for everyone?

Your talking about the New State pension, that only applies for contributions from 2016 onwards, contributions before that are under transitional rules and given the right circumstances people can have a larger State Pension due to these arrangements than the New State pension.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

gravlax said:

molerat said:

The only inheritance provision where both are under the new pension, and that will not apply in your case, is to pass on half the protected amount which is the amount above the new pension maximum.

I have seen other references to 'above the new maximum state pension'. It sounds like a contradiction. The maximum SP requires 35 years NI, and the SP forecast says approx £180 pw 'is the most you can get'. So how can a State Pension be 'above the maximum' - that would mean 35 years NI / £180 is not the maximum? Also 'protected' amount? What's that about?, Isn't the SP bassd on NI contributions guaranteed ('protected') for everyone?

No it doesn't, that isn't how the new State Pension works for most people at the moment.

The 35 years rule only applies to those starting to build up qualifying years from 2016.

Everyone else is under transitional rules and for a few of those they will have accrued more than £185.15 (or the equivalent back in 2016) when their starting amount was calculated.

For anyone starting out since 2016 or who has a starting amount less than the standard amount of new State Pension then they are limited to £185.15 as the (current) maximum.

Suzycoll

Unfortunately NO is the answer. As you will both be in the new SP will come under those rules