Divorce and additional state pension

[gracehedley]

I have just been informed by my solicitor that my husband will be making a claim on my additional state pension. Did not even know this existed! I have worked since 1984, though much of it part time, and wondering how much it might be worth - a tiny amount? considerable amount? Is this something (else) big to worry about, I suppose that is what I mean? Thanks

I think you mean an occupational pension - ie one where the deductions are taken at source from your pay? And I'm assuming you work in the public sector, and that this query has been raised as part of the process of consideration of your divorce settlement.

You might not have even been in the pension scheme in the early 1980s unless you were working full time at the beginning. As far as I can recall, part-time workers were not entitled to be part of those schemes until the late 1980s.

If you are still working for the same employer, the best thing to do is speak to your HR/personnel department and ask them how you find out about your pension. They will give you details of where to write to so that you can get an up to date statement.

You are right, unless you're on a really good salary it's not likely to be enormous, but it is something that would need to be included in the calculation of your joint marital assets - just as any pension of his would be too.

"additional state pension" sounds like SERPS rather than an occupational pension?

It's called the state second pension now.

You complete form BR20 (google it) and the Pensions service send you a transfer value. Send them a BR19 at the same time and they'll send you your projected income on retirement.
The max transfer value is around £90k, so not to be sniffed at, but if you've been working part time and are not near retirement age it won't be worth much. I'd guess between £10k to £30k. Pensions worth that little tend to get ignored as an irrelevance in many divorces.

Collaborate Yikes! showing my age.

What Collaborate said

Thanks for your replies. Yes, thinks it's second state pension. I have already had a CETV for my NHS occupational pension (came out at 69k), but this is a separate thing - former H is going for everything he can get, he tells me - he hasn't paid much in to pension schemes - I am 51 and not earned that much over the years. Sigh ....!

He can "go for everything he can get" but that doesn't mean he's going to get everything he would like.

You opt out of the SSP when you join an occupational pension scheme like the NHS Pension. If you have never worked and not been a member of the NHS scheme at the same time you shouldn't have any SSP of value.

Collaborate, I am a bit confused - I contribute to NHS pension - does that mean I don't qualify for this state second pension?

When you get a breakdown of your NHS pension there will be a part called protected rights. That's the part funded by your SSP opt out. You are eligible to join the SSP but your pension administrators snaffle it.