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Elderly parents

Question about state pension and elderly women who didn't work

27 replies

Seeingadistance · 04/04/2026 16:02

I recently discovered that my mother doesn't get the state pension. She was born in early 1940s, worked for a couple of years then stopped when she got married. My DF, still living, was self-employed and latterly my DM was also a partner in the family business.

A bit of googling suggests that she may be entitled to some pension - either based on my DF's NI contributions or because she was in receipt of Child Benefit for at least 10 years.

Now I'm typing this, I don't know if my DF receives state pension or not, either. It's just not something that's ever been spoken about. My parents really didn't share financial information with my DSis and me - we know a bit more now that DF is in a nursing home. They are comfortably off and my DF is self-funding his care. DSis recently put a lot of effort into getting Pension Age Disability Allowance for DM, and it seems crazy that she may well be entitled to at least some state pension but has never claimed or received it.

Anyone here have any knowledge or experience of this?

OP posts:
TheHellHoundBlackShuck · 04/04/2026 16:07

Yes, she may have married women's pension entitlement or her own entitlement. Do you have her NI number?

RosesAndHellebores · 04/04/2026 16:04

Providing she has an NI number, contact DWP and ask.

I've just remembered. My grandma, who never had a paid job (although she ran the family farm and family business for years) did get a pension. Not as much as if she had paid a stamp but a pension nonetheless. Born 1912. I recall her being surprised and having a rigmarole because she didn't have an NI number.