General Chat

State Pension? riddled with loopholes, if you ask me! Sorry, Len, this seems to have widened into a debate on everyone's entitlement... Did all ladies know that, if they are separated (at 60) and had paid married women's contributions instead of full NI, they can claim the FULL state pension if they divorce their ex! How fair is that, on those of us who paid the lower NI and get a much reduced pension - and even more unfair on those married women who paid the full NI all their working lives and get the same pension as their divorced counterparts! It's true, I know someone who got divorced just before she retired and draws the full pension - in spite of being on the lower rate of NI all her working life (on a very good salary, I should add). I don't blame her, I blame the lousy system. It's almost worth divorcing and living over the brush, for the financial benefits!

A new system of bereavement benefits for men and women was introduced in April 2001. The new system will not affect women who were already getting benefits under the previous scheme as long as they qualify under the rules. A Bereavement Allowance is: Based on your late husband, wife's or civil partners NI contributions Paid for 52 weeks from the date of bereavement Regular payments.

Widowed? This is a general guide to benefits you may be able to get from Jobcentre Plus and other offices if you are of working age. For more information contact your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. A new system of bereavement benefits for men and women was introduced in April 2001. The new system will not affect women who were getting benefits under the previous scheme and who qualify under the new rules. Bereavement Allowance (replaces Widow's Pension) If you were aged 45 or over when your husband, wife or civil partner died and they had paid National Insurance contributions: check Bereavement Allowance Administered by Jobcentre Plus. Bereavement Payment (formerly Widow's Payment) If your late husband, wife or civil partner was not entitled to Retirement Pension when they died: check Bereavement Payment Administered by Jobcentre Plus. Widowed Parent's Allowance If you are bringing up at least one child or expecting your late husband's baby and your late husband, wife or civil partner had paid National Insurance contributions: check Widowed Parent's Allowance Administered by Jobcentre Plus.

If you have not made enough NI contributions you may be able to make voluntary contributions. See Voluntary NI Contributions/Class 3 and Delaying your retirement and/or ask your local DSS office about these but remember the DSS may get it wrong. In certain circumstances more basic pension can be claimed than your NI contributions record might imply. Two examples are: Home responsibilities protection is for people who look after a sick or disabled person for at least 35 hours a week, or receive child benefit for a child under 16. Your local DSS office is the best place to ask about this initially. Unemployed or sick: NI contributions credits will be made for you if you're off work so long as you're receiving Jobseekers Allowance or sickness benefit. DSS State Pension Forecast Service The DSS provides a pension-forecast service whereby it will predict what state benefits you are in line to receive, including SERPS, based on your existing NI contributions. Call 0191 218 7585. If you have your National Insurance number ready, they'll fill out a form for you over the phone in a couple of minutes. But it does then take up to 40 days to receive the forecast through the post.

Qualifying for the State Pension You become eligible for the basic state pension - and benefits from SERPS - when you are 60 for women and 65 for men (the age of the woman will gradually rise to 65 between the years 2010 and 2020). Contrary to popular belief the State pension is not an automatic right. Getting one at all, or how much you get, depends on your National Insurance (NI) contributions record i.e. how many you have made. Generally you only get a full basic state pension if you have paid full rate National Insurance (NI) contributions for 90% of your working life (i.e. 49 years for men and 44 for woman). ( Your working life started when you left school i.e. at 16 or 18 NOT when you left further education). I found this on the pensions Web-Sute,I dont know if its been updated or not.

Catherine,In order to get state pension you need to have paid National Insurance contributions,If you dont pay N.I you get a very much reduced pension, If your a married woman it goes on your husbands,which isent very much:-((

that's terrible, words fail me. Can some one tell me what the current state pension is for a married couple and how do you qualfy to get it, I thought everyone got it. catherine xx

I thought that in order to get 'Full State Pension' you had to have paid full N.I contributions,why has this changed?

Pensions!! What a joke. My wife passed away 6 yrs ago this October. If I had died, she would have been entitled to a widows pension whereas I am entitled to nothing as a widower. I do receive 2 small pensions from 2 places she worked for but they are taxed. In 4 yrs and 1 day, I will be 60 and will receive a small pension of approx £100 per month from a company I used to work for but that will be taxed. When I am 65, I wiil be entitled to my State Pension which will added to all the rest and will be taxed. I wil no better off than if I were receiving a State Pension only.

Ask the Chancellor - he's the brains behind it all, even though it sounds like Prescott. len

Len Please explain to me then, why I am NOT entitled to a full state pension, despite having been born and bred in England,and lived here and worked all my life? OC

Short-term immigrants will soon become eligible for a full state pension - even if they stay in the UK for only a year - because of little-noticed changes to the UK retirement system. Changes being made under The Pensions White Paper will mean immigrants from Europe will no longer have to work for a full 10 years to be eligible for the basic state pension. The change will also reduce the incentive immigrants have to remain in the UK for more than a few years since they will no longer have to stay the full 10 years to qualify for a UK pension. If a worker from abroad has worked for 10 years in other EU countries, they can apply to have some of their pension paid by the UK. This news undermines claims that increased immigration will help boost the pensions system but means the Chancellor's finances will benefit during his term but impose a burden on the state in the long term. Will he care? Len

May play havoc with UK pensions