pension

[Factfinder]

if a woman has an occupational widows pension (civil service), would she lose any of that pension if she takes another person (75 years old) in to live in her home and look after him after a serious illness? She will not be taking any money for him nor will she be claiming any benefits, she will continue to work full time until her reteirment in November.

[dzug]

A lodger has no effect whatever on her civil service pension.

[Factfinder]

thanks dzug, would you mind telling me how you would know this, or in what capacity you know this.

[dzug]

I used to work in the civil service and knew the pension scheme quite well.

Sorry - I misread your original question and missed the 'widows' bit - thought it was her own.

The answer is slightly different

There could be an effect is if she landed up marrying the guy - then she would lose the widow's pension if her late husband was in the pre 2003 scheme and did not opt to change.

The other danger is that they could be regarded as co-habiting which if the Civil Service find out (or someone snitches, or even just makes allegations) they would treat them as if they had married and she would lose the pension that way. Once lost, there are provisions for getting it back if the relationship ends but I believe they are very difficult to invoke.

It might actually better if she did take money as proof he is a lodger.