NHS Pension and Expression of Wishes

FIREmenow

This might be of interest https://monevator.com/how-unmarried-couples-can-protect-their-finances/

Spoiler alert:

In the end they decide to enter a civil partnership after 28 years together.

weezie7

Thank you FIREmenow, what a brilliant article! So easy to read, informative and light hearted! The author is great! That, too, has given me some more food for thought......... it is a really good read! 

weezie7

Moonwolf, thank you too, have already done a PN1, yonks ago........and put paperwork with it, as evidence of joint bills etc. My pension from the NHS is not a big one, but I was just trying to find out what proprtion my other half might get if I peg it!

weezie7

Just to update this thread. Having sent numerous emails, with less than helpful replies to the NHS website, I FINALLY got a sensible reply this morning. I had qot very cross, not abusive, and they kept wanting me to 'fill in a survey', which I kept declining and told them I was not happy. Also, each time I emailed in I got a different person answering the email, no consistency!

So, as I stopped paying into the NHS pension scheme in 2006, before whatever change in rules in 2008 happened. My partner, (not married) is NOT eligible for any of my pension if I died. Finally an answer that is clear!

weezie7

So, all those useless replies from them to fill in a PN!, or look at the website were a total waste of my time, and theirs too!!

Silvertabby

weezie7 said:

Just to update this thread. Having sent numerous emails, with less than helpful replies to the NHS website, I FINALLY got a sensible reply this morning. I had qot very cross, not abusive, and they kept wanting me to 'fill in a survey', which I kept declining and told them I was not happy. Also, each time I emailed in I got a different person answering the email, no consistency!

So, as I stopped paying into the NHS pension scheme in 2006, before whatever change in rules in 2008 happened. My partner, (not married) is NOT eligible for any of my pension if I died. Finally an answer that is clear!

It's all in the details.  One of your earlier posts stated that you had left the NHS in 2010, hence my answer that your partner should receive at least a partial survivor's pension.  But, if you stopped paying in to the scheme (opted out?) in 2006, then the pre 2008 rules do apply.

Even if you were to marry now, post retirement marriage rules would limit your spouse's pension to post 1988 accruals only.  That's better than nothing.  Is getting married, even just a simple registry office affair, still completely off the cards?

weezie7

Thank you for the reply. Don't want to get married but understand it is an option!

Moonwolf

weezie7 said:

So, all those useless replies from them to fill in a PN!, or look at the website were a total waste of my time, and theirs too!!

They weren't useless.  All the information is on the website in the links sent to you.  The PN1 states the criteria for a qualifying partner which is one of the reasons I pointed you at it,  The actual share depends on the scheme and the early date of pensionable service which was missing information from your original post.  

Specifically the PN1 states "You may use this form only if you have pensionable employment on or after 1 April 2008 in the NHS Pension Scheme. Your pensionable service may have started before 1 April 2008 but providing you have pensionable service on or after 1 April 2008 you can complete this form."

Given you didn't mention you didn't have pensionable service after 2008 until later your response to people who failed to help you because you didn't provide enough information or read the information supplied seems a little short.

weezie7

Moonwolf, thank you for your reply. I had contacted the NHS pension service and given them all the details, several times, so don't feel that their answers, to me, were clear to me.I still think the site is not very clear but maybe anyone reading this will be clearer now. I was also not clear about the 2008 changes that have been made and how they would affect me. Thank you for your input.

LHW99

Remeber also, that if you are unmarried, there is no entitlement to inherit any state pension from a partner.

If you are married / civil partnership, you can inherit some of their basic pension (retirement age pre-2016) or part of their "protected payment" (retirement after 2016).

Have you both checked your SP entitlement? May be best to work out what a surviving partner would have to live on, and work to equalise that, if marriage is out of the question