Separation & Old Age Pension

[scatman]

Just wondering what the position is re a couple who are legally seperated and the social welfare / old age pension? Can they both claim individual contributory old age pensions if they have sufficient "stamps" clocked up? or is it still a joint pension? Is the situation different if they divorce?

 

[Joe_90]

The state pension is paid to an individual who has the required number of credits. So if both parties qualify for the pension then they qualify.

In some cases the spouse of a pensioner may not qualify for a pension but may qualify for the dependant persons increase which is means tested.

If parties are separated then the spouse may qualify for a non contributory pension.

 

[scatman]

Ok, thank you for that advice which is very helpful. I understand the contributory pension bit, but I don't understand the non-contributory pension bit fully. What you are saying is that if a couple are legally separated, for a non- contributory state pension, the spouse will be means tested, and if (she) has an income (eg from spouses pension) above threshold x, she will not get a non contributory pension? Does this change again if they are divorced?