Claiming extra pension after paying a reduced NI stamp in the 70’s.

4allweknow

Re:claiming husband's pension allowance when widowed. If only you could. My husband of 55 years worked all his life had a good state pension. No way was I awarded this. Something like a fifth was added to mine. Have I been cheated? Also went on government site to check my own contributions in 70s stay at home for 6 years worked the rest. Full record, no entitlement to any payment.

That depends on your age, I think. If you are old enough to be on classic pension ( born before 1/4/55), I think you can claim on hubby's contributions, but the new pension does not include this.
You can check your "child rearing" contributions have been included, and any time that you have signed on. Otherwise pension credits are means tested.

Paperbackwriter

I was (stupidly) advised to opt for the married woman's reduced NI. Trouble was, that meant the home-care child-raising years somehow didn't count. Pension-wise, I'd have been better off if I'd never, ever worked.

Unfortunately I did the same. And to make it worse I did request a check, approx 10 years after I retired, re how much pension I was entitled too and ended up paying money to the Government which I apparently owed!!

AnotherLiz

Paperbackwriter

I was (stupidly) advised to opt for the married woman's reduced NI. Trouble was, that meant the home-care child-raising years somehow didn't count. Pension-wise, I'd have been better off if I'd never, ever worked.

Unfortunately I did the same. And to make it worse I did request a check, approx 10 years after I retired, re how much pension I was entitled too and ended up paying money to the Government which I apparently owed!!

Why and what did you have to pay, AnotherLiz? 🤔

Paperbackwriter

I was (stupidly) advised to opt for the married woman's reduced NI. Trouble was, that meant the home-care child-raising years somehow didn't count. Pension-wise, I'd have been better off if I'd never, ever worked.

Absolutely correct. I was given the same advice and I am now in a worse position than many of my friends who were stay-at-home Mums.
I have contacted the Pension Service more than once and one lady told me that the system is so over complicated that most of the people who wok there don't fully understand it.

Sarnia

Paperbackwriter

I was (stupidly) advised to opt for the married woman's reduced NI. Trouble was, that meant the home-care child-raising years somehow didn't count. Pension-wise, I'd have been better off if I'd never, ever worked.

Absolutely correct. I was given the same advice and I am now in a worse position than many of my friends who were stay-at-home Mums.
I have contacted the Pension Service more than once and one lady told me that the system is so over complicated that most of the people who wok there don't fully understand it.

Well, mine counted, only from 1978, but I won't query it in case they take it all away. 😯

Were you working throughout and paying a Married Woman's stamp? I did work part-time for a while before DC3 was born, no idea what stamp I paid then but I did pay the full stamp when I went back full-time when she started school.

Well, the WASPI's have drawn a big fat blank. Reeves, Starmer and co. have decided they don't have to abide by the Ombudsman's report so what's the point of an Ombudsman?

Well, they have to fill that flippin' "black hole" somehow!

Skydancer

I’ve filled in the form but haven’t heard anything yet.
Why on earth doesn’t everyone just get the same amount of pension. Would make life so much easier.

People contributed different amounts. Some people contracted out some didn't.

Skydancer

I’ve filled in the form but haven’t heard anything yet.
Why on earth doesn’t everyone just get the same amount of pension. Would make life so much easier.

Why on earth should everyone get the same pension? Some have paid in far more than others and that should be reflected in the pension paid.

RillaofIngleside

Paperbackwriter

I was (stupidly) advised to opt for the married woman's reduced NI. Trouble was, that meant the home-care child-raising years somehow didn't count. Pension-wise, I'd have been better off if I'd never, ever worked.

Paperbackwriter, my friend seems to think this is the case for her too; I didn't quite understand it, and it was me that advised her to check. She doesn't understand it either. Is it the case that if you previously paid a small stamp, they assume you would carry on even if you subsequently paid a full stamp after childcare responsibilities? You are the first person I have seen with the same issue.

I had the same issue. I opted for the 'married women' stamp as I only worked around 3 hours a day. I needed to work for us to make ends meet.
My friends who did not work, and could afford to be 'stay at home' mums, had their 'full' stamp paid by the government as they were raising their children.
I was also raising my children balanced by working a few hours while they were at playgroup/school. I paid full stamp when they went to senior school and I could work longer hours.
I now get far less pension than my friends who didn't work for 7 - 10 years, which doesn't seem fair.

V3ra
I also had a son in October 1984 and received a full year’s contributions.🤔

TiggyW

V3ra
I also had a son in October 1984 and received a full year’s contributions.🤔

Odd. Must have been another reason for mine being incomplete that year?
He was the youngest of three and I hadn't been employed since 1981.
Anyway I had enough qualifying years and more by the time I got to 66! 🙂

My son was born in October 1984 and that tax year didn't count.

Oh I am a fool 🤦
It was the tax year when he turned 16 that didn't count, ie when the child benefit and HRP ended.