Mums Pension In Jeopardy?

Joey122

Hello,

My mum is 58 and my dad 61. My mum has 18 years of hme responsibility and has never worked.

She has been married to my Dad who is due a full state pension..

She had a pension forecast which said she was not entitled to anything - I always thought that women were entitled to 60% of her husbands pension - Is this not the case?

Will my mum receive 60% of my dads pension even though my dad is not eligible for claiming a pension just yet and needs to wait four years?

Thanks for the advice all.

CIS

A woman is entitled to claim a pension equivalent to a maximum of 60% of her husbands state pension when he is 65 - unttil this date , if she has no pension in her own right then she will receive nothing.

janienewcastle

Hi Joey122, someone more experienced wil be along soon......The pension forecast gives details of your mums state pension ONLY. If she has never worked she has not built up a minimal entitlement of the pension. Because of this your mum may be able to claim up to 60% of your dads basic pension but she will have to wait until he reaches 65. Try calling the forcast team on 0845 3000168 for some further advice.

Hope this helps a little.

Joey122

Hello Margret,

Thanks for the reply - I m pretty sure - She might have done one year at the most but I asked for a pension forecast and that was what was written.

Two things:

1) From the posts above it looks like my mum cannot claim her 60% of my dads pension until he is 65 - This is a real shame
2) If my mum was to work for one year this year would this help?

ALIBOBSY

I used to be a pensions advisor in the pensions agency and unfortunately if she does not qualify in her own right she will have to wait until her husband turns 65. Can you confirm her forecast said she had 0 qualifying years and 18 HRP?
ali x

ALIBOBSY

Also can I clarify are either of them on benefits now or is your dad working and supporting them both? Did your Dad claim the winter fuel payment when he turned 60?
ali x

looby-loo_2

margaretclare wrote: »

Are you absolutely certain that Mum has NEVER worked? Never, at all?

I've never heard of someone who never worked at all, unless for some good reason, like long-term illness. How do you know she has 18 years of HRP? Normally someone will have paid some NI contributions or they wouldn't know about this.

Margaret

Hi Margaret

I wondered why you seem suprised? I have three friends from school/uni who have never worked. They finished their studies, got married straight away and set up home, children came along and they stayed at home. Lucky ****! This can't be so uncommon for people say, over 50.
In fact, one of these women has just started her first job at the age of 54. She was really nervous.

ALIBOBSY

Just one more question was she born prior to 5th oct 1950 and due to retire prior to 6th april 2010 as these effect when she can retire and if she will be effected by the new pensions act.
ali x

Joey122

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Just one more question was she born prior to 5th oct 1950 and due to retire prior to 6th april 2010 as these effect when she can retire and if she will be effected by the new pensions act.
ali x

Hello,

She was born before 1950 so will retire at 60.

Joey122

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Also can I clarify are either of them on benefits now or is your dad working and supporting them both? Did your Dad claim the winter fuel payment when he turned 60?
ali x

My dad is claiming Pension credit and has stopped work.

Joey122

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

I used to be a pensions advisor in the pensions agency and unfortunately if she does not qualify in her own right she will have to wait until her husband turns 65. Can you confirm her forecast said she had 0 qualifying years and 18 HRP?
ali x

Hi,

It did not say the number of qualifying years but did say 18 years home responsibility.

Two questions:

1) If she worked for one year would this secure any of her pension?
2) My dad wants a divorce - WIll this affect her pension ? Will she be better off divorced? Not that this makes much off a difference to the decision of divorce or not but I d like to know.