Pension advice re: non-working partner

[Shamoo]

Hi all. Not sure if anybody will be able to advise, but fingers crossed.

My DP is currently a full-time student, does a small amount of teaching work which she is paid for and a very small pension contribution is made by her workplace to her work pension.

I am keen to organise further pension provision to ensure she has a pot that is growing while she is mainly a student. I have looked at different options, but most advice online seems to be for employed or self-employed individuals, and little advice for those who are basically not-employed. I don't think a SIPP is for us, as we aren't investment minded and wouldn't give it the focus it needs.

At the moment only probably talking about £100 a month or so. Keen to get the best tax benefit as possible (I am higher-rate tax payer) but want it to be in her name so it is definitely hers and not mine. It may be that we are best to just add it to her work one, although that wouldn't increase the contributions from her work place at all.

It depends what the workplace scheme is. If it's a money purchase, I'd suggest that the simplest route. If a final salary, possible AVC's might work.

As for contributions, you can invest up to 100% of all earnings or £3600 per annum, whichever is the greater, into a pension. £100 per month is within that and I doubt existing contributions would exceed those levels.

That's really helpful, thanks very much.

You could just up your own contributions as that would be tax efficient. When your partner starts working more hours/earning more, you could concentrate on topping up the pension in her name more.

Another option would be to consider a LISA - you can save up to 4K a year and the government will top it up by 25%. Any interest made on it is not taxed and there won't be any tax to pay when you take it out when older.