What If I Re-marry

CIS

AFAIK you will be able to get an increase to 60% of your husbands basic state pension but your Pension Credit would probably reduce as you will have higher income (you will be assessed as a couple)

AuntyJean

CIS wrote:

If you remarry they look at your new husbands entire basic state pension, not just that which is earned after the marriage.

just to clarify, the last paragraph of my last post above should have read, 'if you dont divorce and you use your husbands record, it will be better off for you not to stop MWE unless you want to claim other state benefits,as it would cost you about £6000 extra in NI for no added benefit'.

Thanks, but I have no choice about the divorce. Hubby's new OH wants it as they are buying a house together and doesn't want me to be entitled to any of it as she is putting 75% into it which is fair enough.

CIS wrote:

AFAIK you will be able to get an increase to 60% of your husbands basic state pension but your Pension Credit would probably reduce as you will have higher income (you will be assessed as a couple).

Does that mean we would be better of just living together? Would we each get a single pension instead of a joint or does the 'state' class couples living together as 'married' for state pension purposes?

margaretclare

AuntyJean wrote:

Does that mean we would be better of just living together? Would we each get a single pension instead of a joint or does the 'state' class couples living together as 'married' for state pension purposes?

No, only for means-tested benefits purposes. You could claim state pension from your ex-husband's contributions if that is more favourable than your own. Once you remarry you become eligible to claim state pension from your new husband's contributions.

However it's possible (although probably not in your case) for both to claim state retirement pension plus SERPS in their own right. This is the case with us - I was widowed, he was divorced - and because of my own contributions, it's more favourable to me.

It's possible for a divorced man to have TWO women claiming state pension off his contributions - his ex and his new wife! That sounds a bit odd to me, but apparently it is the case.

Aunty Margaret

EdInvestor

This "pass the parcel" approach strikes me as quite ridiculous.

Why not just assume a women is entitled to a 60% payment if she doesn't have a record in her own right and give it automatically?

margaretclare

Yes, I agree that it's ridiculous. I think it's particularly ridiculous that a divorced woman can go on claiming against her ex-husband's contributions even after a 'clean break' divorce.

These anomalies will, of course, fade out with time. Any woman who got married after April 1978 no longer had the right to pay MWE (what was called the 'small stamp'). Any woman born after April 1950 will have her retirement date equalised with men. Eventually men and women will both retire at age 65 (if not later!) and will both claim state retirement pension in their own right.

Aunty Margaret

gatita

I posted this query above, but didn't get any replies I would be grateful if someone could answer please.

Hope you don't mind my intruding on this thread, but I would like to clarify my position if I was to marry.
Situation at present, I am retired (64yrs female) my pension is £25 p.w. and made up to the M.I.G. approx £109 p.w. My partner is still working (56 yrs)


Please could anyone explain what would happen in our case. I have not been married before.

mrbnewc

I assume that you're not living with your partner at present because you're receiving the full Pension Credit top up.

If you were to remarry and live with your partner then your total household income would be used to calculate the Pension Credit side and as you say that you're partner is working, you can assume that your Pension Credit will reduce.

It may be worth speaking to your regional Pension Centre on 0845 6060265 to get more a more specific answer.

Hope this helps

MrB

ioscorpio

I did a Pension Forecast, but could not remember my ex's NI no as we have been divorced for 20 years, so based on my contributions I am only entitled to 64% of the full basic pension.

I didn't realize I could use his contributions, neither of us have re-married. How can I find out my ex's NI no. without asking him?

margaretclare

iomexico wrote:

I did a Pension Forecast, but could not remember my ex's NI no as we have been divorced for 20 years, so based on my contributions I am only entitled to 64% of the full basic pension.

I didn't realize I could use his contributions, neither of us have re-married. How can I find out my ex's NI no. without asking him?

Not sure, but...couldn't you write to the Pensions Office at Newcastle and give your ex-husband's full name, tell them you don't know his NI number.

https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/welfr.nsf/a/hwhich - 28k

This can't be an unusual problem. When people get divorced I can't imagine them saying to each other: '....and by the way, I'll need your NI number before you disappear off the horizon'.

HTH

Aunty Margaret

ioscorpio

I did fill in his name address and date of birth on the form for the pension forecast, the annoying thing is I can remember part of it but not all of it.

My daughter's coming home for Christmas, I'll get get her to see if she can find it when she visits him.