Pensions

[Kathyan]

I will be 60 in 4 years time and I have just had a pension forecast. Because I stayed at home to bring up my children I will only get around �30 per week. I am married again now (9 years) and my husband is 7 years younger than me. Will my pension increase when my husband reaches retirement age?

[dzug]

Assuming he has a full(ish) contribution record himself the answer is yes. About �50 a week at current rates if he gets a full pension.

[THECORBYLOON]

There are two maximum rates of Basic State Reirement Pension. One based on a person's own National Insurance currently �84.25 and a lower one based on a spouse only which is currently �50.50. The second rate is near enough 60% of the full amount. If you are entitled to less than the lower amount, yir spouse's contributions can be used to top it up to that amount.

[Kathyan]

My husband will also be receiving an army pension, will this make any difference to the state pension?

[dzug]

The Army pension will not in itself make a difference to his state pension. It may be reduced slightly when his state pension starts being paid.

What could make a difference is that if he served overseas a lot, and if whilst overseas he did not pay National Insurance (don't know if this option is/was available to the armed services, but it was to civil servants on overseas postings) then his NI record may be impaired and earn him a lower state pension.

[WendyS]

It may be possible for you to buy extra years in your state pension if you can afford to do so. Contact the Dept for Work & Pensions and find out what your options are, as having to wait until your husband is 65 is a long time and you may need more income of your own in the meantime.