If I was a Sahm in the U.K., would I get my pension paid into?

[Nomoresundaynightdread]

I’m British, but live abroad at the moment.
I was speaking to my mum, she was a Sahm for years when we were kids (common in the 80’s) she then when to work when we were a little older. She was saying to me that she received payment towards her pension? For staying at home, I’m sure it was until we were 18? Is this true and does that happen now?
Where I am, I’m sure it’s not the case at all and I have to work in order to pay into my future state pension.
Also, if you’re at home and not working, do you have free access to uni/college courses? I’ve always wanted to do a masters, but would have to pay for it myself where I am and we simply can’t afford it at the moment.
I’ve heard both these things, is it true?
Seems so much harder where I am, we don’t get benefits/help in the same way at all.

@WarningToTheCurious I thought similar and is it a set amount for each person to pay. I suppose if it could be done monthly, it’s doable at around £60 per month 🤷🏻‍♀️

It can be confusing.

I strongly recommend doing the UK State Pension forecast I linked before.
In fact, I recommend everyone do it.

There is nothing worse than getting to 60 or 65 and realising you won't get the full state pension and its too late to do anything about it.
Especially if you don't have a private pension.
If you have the forecast now, you can see where you are now and what you need to do to improve it.

I understand why it can see unfair, but that's the rules. You can only get the UK state pension if you pay into it - or get NI credits.
Remember, as well only Full years count towards the UK state pension.
Say for example you worked 6 months of the tax year and paid NI in the UK, but then you left the UK and didn't pay NI for the remaining 6 months - this year doesnt count.

I'm not trying to scare you, but it is really important for everyone to keep an eye on thier State Pension forecast throughout the years. Especially if you are not working, not claiming child benefit or have moved out of the UK.

@minou123 I just don’t understand how the 8 years will have counted for nothing?
If I were to start making monthly voluntary contributions now, would that be added and then they’d include the first 8 years?

Looking at it, it seems to say there *Is still an agreement with Portugal, which I thought was true…so does that mean I will receive a U.K. pension then for the years worked here? And in that case they would then include the first 8 years worked in the U.K. and I’d have 26 years more or less 🙏

You could phone DWP, ask them about it and if the situation still stands get them to confirm in writing that this is the case or link you to the gov web page where it’s stated (screenshot).

Then you at least have a record of the info prior to moving, which can be used if there’s any issue in future I.E. if you move back, set up a gov gateway and then find that your record is incomplete. (Not all staff are amazing at sorting things out, makes things easier if all recorded).

If you were to start making voluntary contributions now, then they would be added to the 8 years you currently have.

As I say, I highly recommend getting the State Pension Forecast.
It will give you an accurate view of how many years you currently have and how many more years of NI you need to pay in the UK to get the full state pension.

I dontt *think the social security contributions you've been paying in Portugal will count towards the UK state pension. But as I say, it's not my area of expertise. You are better to call the Pension helpline to ask.

Have to agree with this, think the OP is a bit naive about it being an easy ride…
I earn 45 k and the idea of my husband who earns 25 k packing his job in is ridiculous, our fixed rate is ending and my salary alone wouldn’t cover mortgage and bills!
We are in North West.

@minou123 I’m hoping if they do have this agreement as it says, then my contributions here will count? If it’s true I have 26 odd years of contributions, I can take a sigh of relief as that will only mean I need to make 9 more years, taking me to 54…obviously will need to work longer than this though!

@Pyui You’re probably right, 70k seems like a great amount to me, but as I say, our wages are v v low in comparison and still things are v expensive. The trick would be to earn U.K. wages but live here!

Just to say, thanks so much for everyone’s help, really appreciated 🙏

This link explains it pretty clearly: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/living-or-working-overseas-and-state-pension

Your UK State Pension if you've lived or worked abroad
Your UK State Pension will be based on your UK National Insurance recordd_. You usually need 10 years of UK National Insurance contributions to be eligible for the new State Pension.
You may be able to use time spent abroad to make up the 10 qualifying years. This is most likely if you’ve lived or worked in:
• the EEA
• Gibraltar
• Switzerland
• certain countries that have a social security agreement with the UK(external link opens in a new window / tab))
external link opens in a new window / tabb
Example:
You have seven qualifying years from the UK on your National Insurance record when you reach State Pension age.
You worked in an EEA country for 16 years and paid contributions to that country’s state pension.
You will meet the minimum qualifying years to get the new State Pension because of the time you worked overseas. Your new State Pension amount will only be based on the seven years of National Insurance contributions you made in the UK.

It bloody well isn't. You still need a student loan, a single unit is £1614.

It bloody well isn't. You still need a student loan, a single unit is £1614.

OP The 'free' courses are only for QCSE equivalant in English and Maths.

GCSE no idea where the Q came from.

This is not right. You will only only have 8 partial years earned in the U.K., that is all.

Your Portugal pension counts towards the 10 qualifying years because there is an agreement in place. But if you then qualify, you only can use what you’ve actually earned in UK. So in your case 8 partial years. You’ll need to earn another 27 years (if still 35 years and not now increased) in the U.K. for full pension.

You’ll get something with 8 years but not a lot.

The current pension is £203 per week. You will get 8/35 of that which is £46 per week.

Do you have a HMRC government gateway log-in?

If not, I suggest you set one up and then can view your full NI countdown and how many years they currently have for you.

Parents who receive Child Benefit may get NI credits until the child is 12. But that’s only if they qualify for Child benefit - if the other parent’s salary is over 60K then they won’t get the credits.

You need to check your government gateway to check that you do have 8 years contributions - depending on how part-time you worked you may or may not have qualified for each of those years. I worked throughout uni but some years I have gaps - you can see that I contributed something for those years because they're cheaper to buy back than the full amount but clearly I didn't pay enough to make it a qualifying year without topping up in that way.

Just making sure you saw this, OP.

You absolutely will not get a full U.K. state pension based on your 26 years of contributions to a Portuguese pension plus 8 partial years.

You must check your NI qualifying years entitlement ASAP, and get your head around all this info in the link above.

As you’re 45, now is the time to make plans. Don’t put it off.

By the way, on the subject of whether it’s “fair” that you’ve worked all these years but might not qualify for a U.K. state pension - that’s because you’ve been contributing your taxes to another country. So it is “fair”, in that sense. M

You need to a) check on your own NI record in the UK and b) understand the rules around your Portuguese state pension if you move back to the U.K.

You might be entitled to both pensions when you retire, but you’re probably not likely to get the full amount of either. Which is fair, because you’d only have contributed less than your full working life in each country.

I don’t think that’s correct. A SAHM with a partner earning over £60k can still get the NI credits from child benefit for a child under 12, but not the benefit itself - it’s either paid back via partner’s tax or you can opt not to receive the payment.

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/benefits/benefits-if-you-have-children/protecting-your-state-pension-when-you-have-a-baby#

@NoSquirrels So if I moved back to the U.K., would I get my Portuguese pension at the end too? I mean I obviously need something from somewhere and need it to be enough. My worry is the Portuguese pension I receive might not be enough to survive in the U.K. 😔
If my 8 years only counts for that, just 8 years, then I have to make constructions for another 27 years! That will be make me 72! It can’t work out like that at all if I’ve been paying somewhere into the system all my life, I can’t be left with barely anything

I think you are misunderstanding the agreement.
I really wouldn't pin your hopes that your contributions in Portugal will count towards the UK State Pension.
You are going to be really disappointed.

Things have massively changed over the years. What with Tory government, brexit, living longer etc, there have been huge changes to the UK State Pension and qualifying NI contributions.

Honestly, get a State Pension forecast and it will tell you exactly how many years of contributions you have.

That’s what you need to find out, isn’t it?

You need to understand how your Portuguese state pension will be paid if you are no longer living in Portugal.

But it’s definitely not just a case of you can swap your years in each country to whichever state pension you decide.

They’re different countries with different rules and requirements and you need to find out.

It can’t work out like that at all if I’ve been paying somewhere into the system all my life, I can’t be left with barely anything

It’s not ‘the system’ though, is it? It’s 2 separate countries. 2 separate systems.

Brexit means the U.K. is not part of the EU. The U.K. chose to opt out of ‘the system’.

Be aware that your UK state pension age will be 68, if you’re currently 45.