State Pension

I get my own pension as of right. It is also supplemented by the married contributions my ex paid up to the time of our divorce. It doesn't make me rich, but it helps while he lives the life of riley 6000 miles away.

If it's of any help, the telephone no. to get your state pension forecast (as at Aug 2017) is 0800 731 7898

Also according to www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/what-youll-get, the contributing years are 35, not 40.

We are not due to get our State Pensions for a few more years annsixty, so the new rules apply to us. Everything changed from April 2017. It's your own contributions that count...no more married couple's pension.
In my case I had a 14 year gap between child 2 and 3, so have many years of Child Benefit contributions. Contributions are also credited if you're claiming other benefits too I believe.

Used to be 39 years for women, and 44 for men, then it changed to 30 for everyone, then it changed again to 35 years for everyone. Anyone who starts drawing a pension from April 2016 is affected by the latest change.

You do need 35 years of contribution to get the state pension, and you can get credits automatically until the youngest child is 12. You can also get credits if you are receiving Carers Allowance. There are lots of women in their 60s who have been hit hard by the change in the rules. I guess we didn't make enough fuss years ago. I worked with someone a couple of years younger than me who just made the full pension at 60 while I have to wait years more for mine. Must have added up to tens of thousands.

Opps I mean older than me!