If you are divorced, you may have built up your own state basic pension. However, if this would be paid at a reduced rate, you might get a higher basic pension by using special rules that apply to divorced people. These allow a divorced man or woman to substitute for some or all of the years in his or her working life the contributions record of the former wife or husband. When you ask for a State Pension Forecast or claim your pension. The pension service will ask you for details of any former husband or wife whose National Insurance record could be used in calculating your pension entitlement. Ideally, you should keep a note of your former husband’s or wife’s full name, date of birth and National Insurance Number.

On top of any enhanced basic pension, you will also get ant additional pension and graduated pension you have built up in your own right. If our divorce proceedings commenced on r after 1 December 2000, a court can make a pension sharing order, requiring most retirement pensions (but not the state basic pension) to be split between the couple. Such an order can be applied to sate additional pensions. If you are going through a divorce and need advice about this, contact a solicitor, local law centre or citizens advice bureau.

Special rules for widows and widowers

If you are widowed either before or after reaching state pension age. You might qualify for extra state retirement pension based on your late husband’s or wife’s contribution record. The rules are complicated and depend on when you are widowed, your age when widowed, whether your late husband or wife died before or after reaching retirement age, and whether you were entitled to other state benefits before you reached retirement. When you ask for a State Pension Forecast or claim your pension, the Pension Service will ask for details of a late husband or late wife whose National Insurance record could be used in calculating your pension entitlement. Ideally, you should keep a note of your late spouse’s full name, date of birth and National Insurance number.