Paul Lewis
Carole, who was divorced nearly 10 years ago, claimed her own pension at 60 but, like most married women, found it was reduced because she had not paid full NI contributions for much of her life.
It was only later that she found out she could use some of her ex-husband's contributions to boost her pension. As a result her pension rose from £66 a week to £104 and the change was backdated to her 60th birthday. She said, "I feel it is important that other ladies in my position should know about this."
If you divorce, you can use your ex-spouse's contributions as if they were your own from the year you reached 17 to the year you divorced. If you remarry before pension age, you lose that right. But once you have reached pension age and claimed your pension it will not be reduced if you remarry. If you have been divorced more than once, only the contributions of the most recent ex-spouse can be used. Using your ex-spouse's contributions does not affect their pension and they will not know about it.
If you are already over state pension age when you divorce, you can also use your ex-spouse's contributions to boost your pension, unless you were divorced before April 6, 1979. Divorcées cannot get a share of their ex-spouse's graduated pension or SERPS. But since 2000 divorced partners can share their SERPS as part of a divorce settlement. If you are separated but still married, you cannot use your spouse’s contributions and you will have to rely on your own contributions.
More information online from thepensionservice.gov.uk or call 0845 6060265
Written by Paul Lewis, this article first appeared in the September 2009 edition of Saga Magazine. Paul's opinions are his own and for general information only. Always seek independent financial advice.