In Sickness and in Wealth

[Mr Potter]

Mate of mine turned 65 earlier this year. Next year sees huge changes to the pension system in England
for eg as of next year you cant claim
a pension for your partner so if he marries this year he gets 50 quid a week or waits till next year and recieves absolutely nil. Being the guy he is he quickly got married after knowing his missus for less
than a year Another mate who has been married for four years isnt 65 until next year when he wont recieve a bean. Lifes cruel aint it So if your 65 this year you should marry quickly

At least he is in his rights to claim. Spoke to a couple of Skallywags at the local  bar last night. one has been living here for years but claims to live in England and therefore gets a cost of living pension  increase every year
He also claims for cold weather allowance in the winter months
The other guy at 61 years of age claims sixty quid a week as he has no income
What a pair of scoundrels eh? And then they complain that their wives are always stitching them up by
lying about the cost of things they buy .Seems to me theyre all well matched You just hope these guys get their come-uppance

[Thumper]

I'm 51 and been married for years. Reading your post I will not be able to claim for my wife when I turn 65 is that correct?

[Isaan Lawyers]

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/

Especially here:
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/resourcecentre/disclaimer.asp

And here:
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/changes-to-pensions/home.asp

[Mr Potter]

Thumper, Im gonna be getting there (65) long before you but that is what Ive heard from these guys that the changes next
year will affect folk like us. Needless to say Im looking into it as after 2010 it will be too late. Let me know if you hear anything but several guys have said the same about the changes

[koratwanderer]

I'm 51 and been married for years. Reading your post I will not be able to claim for my wife when I turn 65 is that correct?

Unfortunately Thumper you won't even be able to get anything for yourself when you're 65, let alone your wife; the pension age for men and women rises to 68 in the next few years. The only good news is that you now only need 30 years NI contributions instead of 44 years to get the full UK state pension.

The bit about the dependant wife's allowance finishing next year is at the bottom of this page. http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensions-reform/act.asp

Edit: Thumper, I think you might just make it at 65. Enter your date of birth in here http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensions-reform/calculator.asp to see when you will get your pension.

[Thumper]

I'm 51 and been married for years. Reading your post I will not be able to claim for my wife when I turn 65 is that correct?

Unfortunately Thumper you won't even be able to get anything for yourself when you're 65, let alone your wife; the pension age for men and women rises to 68 in the next few years. The only good news is that you now only need 30 years NI contributions instead of 44 years to get the full UK state pension.

The bit about the dependant wife's allowance finishing next year is at the bottom of this page. http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensions-reform/act.asp

Edit: Thumper, I think you might just make it at 65. Enter your date of birth in here http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensions-reform/calculator.asp to see when you will get your pension.

Thanks for the links guys. I just qualify for age 65, but not by much...

This is a quote from the dependant Section:

From 6 April 2010, a married or separated woman who needs to use her husband?s National Insurance contributions for her pension will be able to claim this once both she and her husband have reached State Pension age. She won?t have to wait until he has actually claimed his pension. (The same will apply to a married man or a civil partner whose wife or civil partner was born after 5 April 1950, if they need to use their wife?s or civil partner?s contributions).

Reading this several times. It would appear that my wife might be able to claim when she is 68, but she would only be able to claim independently, making a claim on my contributions. I will be long gone by then and the laws will have changed several times, so its all a bit academic.

[Mr Potter]

Wanderer. thanks a  lot for confirming the bad news. No doubt if youre 65 you should hurry
up and get married this year and get paid for at least 10 years   The fifty quid a week bride     Thats called marrying for real love......money money   Anyhow thats just the luck of the draw. Good bloody luck


These guys who are fiddling the goverment are really the ones to blame  A pox on all their houses

[Pompui]

Think yourselves lucky. By the time I reach retirement there probably won't even be a pension. Either that or you'll need to be 90 to get it.

[Jivvy]

One thing they forget to tell you is that your pension stays the same as it is at the date you leave the UK for thailand. i.e. your basic rate, no pension credits, no annual increase, no bonuses etc. If you go back to the UK you immediately qualify for the then current rate plus additions & NHS etc.  but when you come back to thailand you go back to the basic they were originally paying you. And they say they want to look after their pensioners