State OAP

Hi all just wondering if anyone could tell me what the state old age pension is for a married couple?

I friend of ours believes both he & his wife will each get £175 per week, this seems a little high as I'm sure when my father-in-law was alive together with his wife they only got about £160 for them both not each.

If anyone could help I would be very grateful.Hel.xxx.

 

Hel in 2009-2010, the full basic State Pension is £95.25 a week for a single person and £152.30 a week for a couple who have both contributed, but your individual circumstances may affect the amount you get.
It is £120.70 for a married couple on just the husbands contributions.

 

I have always paid and I have been told I won't get a state pension until I'm 62. I was born to late.:dh:
Is it correct you get more as a couple living together both with full paid up stamps than a married couple. ?

 

I'm looking forward to retiring when I get to 173 years old. That's how it will be if our government gets its way.

 

Changing the subject slightly. In some countries ( I think Poland is one of them), providing you have paid your contributions for a set(40) amount of years, you can retire then and get your pension. That sounds a far superior idea. You've done your life's graft and it gives you a bit longer to enjoy your last years.

 

Many thanks guys for all your help sady our friend is going to be in quite a shock.
I think he has been claiming sick for sometime (although I'm not sure how long) and I believe this will stop when he reaches pension age (?).

He has been told silly tells from others even one person who insisted that he had opted out of national insurance contributions altogether but this is not totally possible I mean surly he would have to pay some contributions even at a lower rate?

My goodness Bob and I are trying to ease this fellow's worry but it's all swings and roundabouts to us!Hel.xxx.

 

I was self employed for a while and had no option to opt out. In fact I was employed by a company and self employed in my own venture at the same time, so had to pay NI twice (once through the company I worked for and again directly to HM Customs and Revenue for my self employment).

As far as I know, the only way you can opt out of NI (or more specifically 'opt in' when you are not obliged to pay it) is if you are on an income that is below the tax threshold.

It is largely academic though if I understand correctly. You get a basic state pension, or if you haven't paid enough contributions it is, I believe, topped up with Income Support (or whatever it is called these days).

Instead of heresay, speculation, and uncertainty, perhaps it would be best to have a good read through this site:
http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/State_Pensions/Entitlement/