Mum's state pension

Janie2

My mum is 86 and my stepdad 76. My mum was eligible to draw her state pension age 60 in 1998. However, my stepdad was only 50 at the time and she was told she wouldn't receive her full state pension until her husband retired at 65! So for the next 15 years she got a paltry amount of pension. I think from memory about £5 a week but I may be wrong. And because she couldn't afford to top up her pension and had many missing years she now gets roughly £400 pm.
My question is, does this sound right and just? Or would/could there be any recompense for her? She questioned it at the time, several times, with DWP but was told there was nothing they could do.
Seems very unfair to me! 

Silvertabby

As long as her State pension increased to 60% of (the then) basic State pension from when your dad reached 65, then that sounds fine.

Your mum opted to pay the married woman's stamp, ie, a much reduced rate of National Insurance.  In return, she would have signed a declaration acknowledging that she would never accrue State pension benefits in her own right, but would coat-tail on your dad's NI contributions once he reached his State pension age.

My late aunt was in a similar situation, although the age gap wasn't as large.  She received less than £3 per week until my uncle reached 65.  She knew what she had signed up for, and had always regretted it - but the difference in her NI contributions was the difference between able to afford their mortgage or not, so it was clearly a substantial reduction.

ADD.  The current basic State pension is £169.50.  60% of that is £101.70 per week, so looks like your mum's pension is spot on.

Janie2

Oh I see. I didn't realise that that was what she'd done but it makes total sense. They didn't have much money so would have gone for the cheaper option. Thank you 😊