Your partner’s National Insurance record and your State Pension: Information based on your answers
You can’t increase your State Pension through your spouse or civil partner’s National Insurance contributions.
The new State Pension is based on your own National Insurance record.
If you become widowed
You may be able to inherit some of your spouse or civil partner’s State Pension. What you get depends on when your spouse or civil partner reached or will reach State Pension age and when your marriage or civil partnership began.
You won’t be able to inherit any of their State Pension if you remarry or form a new civil partnership before State Pension age.
Your spouse or civil partner reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016
You may be able to inherit a portion of their Additional State Pension and State Pension top up. You may also be able to inherit half their Graduated Retirement Benefit. This was the earnings-related State Pension people could build up between 1961 and 1975.
You must have been married or in a civil partnership with your partner before 6 April 2016.
You may also be able to inherit a portion of your spouse or civil partner’s deferral payment if they had deferred claiming their State Pension - the date of your marriage or civil partnership doesn’t affect this.
Your spouse or civil partner reached or is due to reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016
You may be able to inherit half of their Protected Payment.
You must have been married or in a civil partnership with your partner before 6 April 2016.
Other benefits you might get
You might be eligible for a Bereavement Support Payment if your partner dies before you reach State Pension age.
If you get divorced or your civil partnership is dissolved
The courts may decide to award you a share of your former partner’s Additional State Pension if they reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. If they reached, or will reach, State Pension age after 6 April 2016, the courts may award you a share of their Protected Payment.
Increase your retirement income
You might be able to increase your State Pension amount if:
- you’re eligible for National Insurance credits
- you make voluntary National Insurance contributions
- you choose to defer your State Pension
You can also contribute to workplace pension and personal or private pensions.
Contact the Pension Service for help and advice.
Your answers
- When will (or did) you reach state pension age?
- on or after 6 April 2016
- Change When will (or did) you reach state pension age?
- When will (or did) your spouse or civil partner reach state pension age?
- on or after 6 April 2016
- Change When will (or did) your spouse or civil partner reach state pension age?