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Original poster

SAHM and pension

84 replies

Marroon · 19/08/2026 20:04

I’m probably being unreasonable to ask here to begin with but if you’re a SAHM how are you saving for a pension?
Anything that’s a better or worse option from your perspective?

OP posts:
Newmumatlast · 20/08/2026 02:24

Vulturesoverhead · 20/08/2026 01:52

It is at the Trustees discretion and I can assure you they do not cut the wife out if she were to make a claim under dependency.

Show quote history

I didn't say the wife would be cut out but it isn't auto.

Teainapinkcup · 20/08/2026 01:53

T0wer0fb00ks · 19/08/2026 20:10

Anyone not earning can pay a maximum of £2880 into a SIPP per year. The Government will add FREE money up to £3600

Then there will be compound interest each year

I recommend doing this

The only downfall is that you cannot access the money until 55 or 57 depending on your age.

Where do you get sipp? I am new to all of this and want to start a pension pot for myself.

Vulturesoverhead · 20/08/2026 01:52

Newmumatlast · 20/08/2026 01:44

Depends who he has put as beneficiary to his pension. It wouldn't auto go to his wife if he has other beneficiaries named

Show quote history

It is at the Trustees discretion and I can assure you they do not cut the wife out if she were to make a claim under dependency.

Newmumatlast · 20/08/2026 01:44

Vulturesoverhead · 20/08/2026 01:18

It is not ‘his’ pension, you should be clear on that. It is a family asset. Also if he dies you get all his pension - tax free. That said, I appreciate your position.

Show quote history

Depends who he has put as beneficiary to his pension. It wouldn't auto go to his wife if he has other beneficiaries named

Vulturesoverhead · 20/08/2026 01:33

SpiritAdder · 19/08/2026 21:36

My husband cashed his pension in….

I had a Roth IRA going for him in his name the entire time he was a SAHD.
He liquidated it 12 years ago without telling me when we swapped and I became a SAHM. I have no idea where the money went. Would have been at least $150k when he cashed it in. He never put anything towards a private pension for me when I was SAHM. All I have was my workplace one that I left to grow.

Now he is divorcing me, says he has no money and is coming after half of mine. He waited until three weeks after I got the last bit of inheritance from my parents.

I feel like the victim of a very long con. I hope my lawyers can ensure I get a fair settlement.

Show quote history

Hmm that’s shit and a good argument to have access and control.

Vulturesoverhead · 20/08/2026 01:18

Marroon · 19/08/2026 20:54

I know large assets would be split in a divorce but I would rather know I have a reasonable standard in retirement in my name from my previous workplace pension, and some form of private pension before possibly a further workplace pension down the line. This way I know what my minimum is if I was alone in retirement and avoids possible bitterness if a divorce happened in 2 decades feeling like I was going for “his” pension, plus it’s more security in the event of DH passing or reduced capacity for earnings down the line.

Show quote history

It is not ‘his’ pension, you should be clear on that. It is a family asset. Also if he dies you get all his pension - tax free. That said, I appreciate your position.

Minasama · 19/08/2026 23:20

Something to bear in mind - since your husband can put up to £60K into a pension and get tax back on it/not pay the tax on it if via salary sacrifice, it may be worth ensuring he uses this full allowance so that you get extra pension provision as a household (in the event you split you’d be entitled to half under the financial settlement.)

OhamIreally · 19/08/2026 23:14

Poret · 19/08/2026 20:36

I pay into a SIPP, £2880 a year, which is topped up as mentioned above.

I also pay £4k into a LISA which is given a bonus of £1k. Invested into the same investments as my SIPP, accessible at age 60. Then I pay £16k into an ISA, which is also invested, and is tax-free on withdrawal.

I have some other money in investment accounts which aren't tax sheltered but I will use CG allowance to withdraw, and this is added to annually.

I have NI credits towards a state pension through child benefit credits (though don't get payment) and due to get a full pension (as I spread my child-bearing years out so I will get to the no. of years required by the time my youngest is 12.)

What are you paying it from if you are not earning anything? It all sounds very tax efficient but where is your concomitant contribution to society?

IndestructibleRubberplants · 19/08/2026 23:05

Not ideal but when I became a Sahm pensions were not something you found add to. I went back to work eventually and all my salary went into my pension - I made pretty good progress over the last 10 years.

Downloadfilms · 19/08/2026 22:29

One can claim NI credits even if over the CBenefit threshold.
I think it's been deliberately confused so the Govt saves money!!

Arran2024 · 19/08/2026 22:22

You can claim national insurance credits for caring for children under the age of 12 if you claim child benefit (this helps qualify for the state pension. https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility

National Insurance credits

Who can get National Insurance credits and how to apply or when to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions.

https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility

Original poster
Marroon · 19/08/2026 22:12

Timeforachange26 · 19/08/2026 21:44

So" we " then.Or " he". Not I

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Not really, by that logic if “he” can make financial decisions surely “I” can too?

OP posts:
Poret · 19/08/2026 22:07

Timeforachange26 · 19/08/2026 21:44

So" we " then.Or " he". Not I

Show quote history

I make all those transfers from our joint account, so it's an action that I perform manually.

Timeforachange26 · 19/08/2026 21:44

Marroon · 19/08/2026 21:43

Many couples view income as joint, particularly in respectful relationships.

Show quote history

So" we " then.Or " he". Not I

Original poster
Marroon · 19/08/2026 21:43

Timeforachange26 · 19/08/2026 21:37

That's a long of money you pay out when you aren't earning anything

Show quote history

Many couples view income as joint, particularly in respectful relationships.

OP posts:
Timeforachange26 · 19/08/2026 21:37

Poret · 19/08/2026 20:36

I pay into a SIPP, £2880 a year, which is topped up as mentioned above.

I also pay £4k into a LISA which is given a bonus of £1k. Invested into the same investments as my SIPP, accessible at age 60. Then I pay £16k into an ISA, which is also invested, and is tax-free on withdrawal.

I have some other money in investment accounts which aren't tax sheltered but I will use CG allowance to withdraw, and this is added to annually.

I have NI credits towards a state pension through child benefit credits (though don't get payment) and due to get a full pension (as I spread my child-bearing years out so I will get to the no. of years required by the time my youngest is 12.)

That's a long of money you pay out when you aren't earning anything

SpiritAdder · 19/08/2026 21:36

Vulturesoverhead · 19/08/2026 20:38

You can claim half of his pension on divorce. Life insurance is also a must.

Show quote history

My husband cashed his pension in….

I had a Roth IRA going for him in his name the entire time he was a SAHD.
He liquidated it 12 years ago without telling me when we swapped and I became a SAHM. I have no idea where the money went. Would have been at least $150k when he cashed it in. He never put anything towards a private pension for me when I was SAHM. All I have was my workplace one that I left to grow.

Now he is divorcing me, says he has no money and is coming after half of mine. He waited until three weeks after I got the last bit of inheritance from my parents.

I feel like the victim of a very long con. I hope my lawyers can ensure I get a fair settlement.

SleeplessRoads · 19/08/2026 21:28

arethereanyleftatall · 19/08/2026 20:13

It was a while ago now but my then dh paid into a SIPP for me. I tell my girls now to only become sahms if they want to, are married, and husband pays an equal amount in to both pensions.

In most cases it would be bad advice to pay the same into both pensions, as the working parent will be massively under contributing to their pension given the £2,800 cap on contributions to a pension of someone with no earnings.

OhHobnobs · 19/08/2026 21:26

Marroon · 19/08/2026 20:54

I know large assets would be split in a divorce but I would rather know I have a reasonable standard in retirement in my name from my previous workplace pension, and some form of private pension before possibly a further workplace pension down the line. This way I know what my minimum is if I was alone in retirement and avoids possible bitterness if a divorce happened in 2 decades feeling like I was going for “his” pension, plus it’s more security in the event of DH passing or reduced capacity for earnings down the line.

Show quote history

I recently discovered I can continue paying into my previous workplace pension directly myself even though I no longer work for the company and haven't done for a number of years. So that is what I do. The government tops it up with tax relief automatically so for example if pay in £100, then £125 gets added to my invested pension pot.

We also have life insurance and income protection insurance for bereavement or reduced capacity of earnings, which we arranged through a financial planner and insurance broker. I really recommend speaking to one for peace of mind!

Simonjt · 19/08/2026 21:09

Do you claim CB for the NI credits?

SIPP as others have said, you can also open a LISA they have okay interest rates, once tou get to about £12,000 you would earn around 95p a day, then each year if you add £4,000 you receive £1,000 from the government.

Has your husband got a private pension, if so had he nominated you so some passes on to you if he dies.

Original poster
Marroon · 19/08/2026 20:54

Vulturesoverhead · 19/08/2026 20:38

You can claim half of his pension on divorce. Life insurance is also a must.

Show quote history

I know large assets would be split in a divorce but I would rather know I have a reasonable standard in retirement in my name from my previous workplace pension, and some form of private pension before possibly a further workplace pension down the line. This way I know what my minimum is if I was alone in retirement and avoids possible bitterness if a divorce happened in 2 decades feeling like I was going for “his” pension, plus it’s more security in the event of DH passing or reduced capacity for earnings down the line.

OP posts:
Original poster
Marroon · 19/08/2026 20:50

Lmnop22 · 19/08/2026 20:19

It’s not saving into a pension but my understanding is that you would still qualify for a state pension if receiving child benefit as a SAHM

I’m wanting to ensure I have more than state pension.

OP posts:
Vulturesoverhead · 19/08/2026 20:38

Marroon · 19/08/2026 20:16

Great this is helpful.
Having it locked that long is almost better, I want to make sure it’s a back up pension option for me if something happened to DH or the marriage rather than anything that could be joint ‘savings’ used for other things down the line.

Show quote history

You can claim half of his pension on divorce. Life insurance is also a must.

Vulturesoverhead · 19/08/2026 20:38

arethereanyleftatall · 19/08/2026 20:13

It was a while ago now but my then dh paid into a SIPP for me. I tell my girls now to only become sahms if they want to, are married, and husband pays an equal amount in to both pensions.

Well they can’t get an equal amount into a pension as that’s not possible. They could however have a stocks and shares ISA.

Poret · 19/08/2026 20:36

I pay into a SIPP, £2880 a year, which is topped up as mentioned above.

I also pay £4k into a LISA which is given a bonus of £1k. Invested into the same investments as my SIPP, accessible at age 60. Then I pay £16k into an ISA, which is also invested, and is tax-free on withdrawal.

I have some other money in investment accounts which aren't tax sheltered but I will use CG allowance to withdraw, and this is added to annually.

I have NI credits towards a state pension through child benefit credits (though don't get payment) and due to get a full pension (as I spread my child-bearing years out so I will get to the no. of years required by the time my youngest is 12.)