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Original poster

Private pension when not working

36 replies

worldwidetravel2017 · 15/10/2025 13:23

Currently im not working - dr signed me off - many health conditions, & high risk pregnancy

My partner doesnt earn loads but over 30k gross

Currently 100 gbp a month from his pay = into my private pension

Weve said we will up this amount when he gets promoted. ..

Hes very lucky in that his work triple his contribution to his - so if he pays in 131 gbp - he ends up with over 300 a month going in..

Ive never worked in corporate / never had an employer do this. .

I dont know much about private pensions
But even though its currently only 100 gbp a month - still worth it right ?

OP posts:
Original poster
worldwidetravel2017 · 16/10/2025 09:17

JaninaDuszejko · 15/10/2025 20:35

If they were married and if the DP's matched contributions aren't capped then yes but since they aren't married it makes sense for @worldwidetravel2017 to have her own pension. It's far better for her to have some of her own small pension than to have none of his larger pension if the relationship goes tits up. Her DP is very decent and sensible to provide for her in this way, although the most sensible thing would be to get married to provide stability for their child(ren).

Show quote history

I believe theres a limit for what can go into his monthly too - he may already be hitting it - im pretty sure he said to me last year that hes putting max he can in it monthly

He also has some shares thing due out next spring ( 600 quid ish)
Which he said hes giving to me 4 me & baby

OP posts:
Original poster
worldwidetravel2017 · 16/10/2025 09:20

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 15/10/2025 23:36

Would he go for a civil partnership? That is available for straight couples now and gives same benefits of marriage. I agree with this would be massively beneficial.

I may discuss with him in a year or two

We went through a lot with ivf ..

I know hes always been open that given how bad things got between his own parents - he wasnt ever keen for marriage

I went through some childhood trauma and due to such - never had strong wants re marriage with anyone .

OP posts:
Original poster
worldwidetravel2017 · 16/10/2025 09:24

HeyThereDelila · 16/10/2025 04:21

Govt also add to private pensions - it’s called tax relief. Don’t listen to PP who recommend a LISA, if it’s a cash one the value gets eroded. You need a private pension from a company such as Aviva, L&G, Aegon etc where your DP puts in your £100 per month (not every 3 months). Up this amount as soon as affordable.

Your point about buying more NICs to fill your state pension is good, but separate to private pension. Remember, to get a full state pension you have to work or be in receipt of certain benefits for 35 years. Make sure you claim child benefit and I really would urge you to speak to your DP again about marriage.

Child benefit will be in my name -, ive already stated that to him

Im nearly 4 years older than him

Yep i hear you re state pension being different

I have a small aegon pension already but it was on the one show
Re trouble with them
And many bad trust pilot reviews

I have a nest one that il likely add to

Thank you

I come into 800 gbp soon ( interest on an isa ) - may put into pension or premium bonds after using a,little 4 baby

OP posts:
titchy · 16/10/2025 09:29

MasterMind1982 · 15/10/2025 23:27

Literally makes no sense, it’s like giving away £200 of cash a month , more if you think about what it could make..

You mean what HE could make. Not her, him. He could leave her and their child penniless while he swans round the world with a women 20 years younger on what would have been OP’s pension.

Although, OP is rather silly for not marrying / having a civil partnership before they had a child. <sigh> Cos if they split up he certainly wont be continuing those pension contributions.

Original poster
worldwidetravel2017 · 16/10/2025 09:34

titchy · 16/10/2025 09:29

You mean what HE could make. Not her, him. He could leave her and their child penniless while he swans round the world with a women 20 years younger on what would have been OP’s pension.

Although, OP is rather silly for not marrying / having a civil partnership before they had a child. <sigh> Cos if they split up he certainly wont be continuing those pension contributions.

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We went through a long 3 year journey to achieve this current precious pregnancy

We met when i was older ( 35 )

He used a,work policy to cover some,of the ivf costs too

OP posts:
Drawback · 16/10/2025 11:34

ItsFineReally · 15/10/2025 19:30

As you are under 40, not a HR taxpayer and paying in £100 pm, you should consider a LISA rather than a pension.

One risk with a LISA is that it will be counted as savings if you need to claim UC (which could happen if your DP loses his job or if you split up and are left as a single parent). Any amount over £6k would be counted and reduce the amount you could claim, and if you have over £16k you wouldn't be able to claim anything. Whereas you could have any amount, even over £16k, in a pension and it wouldn't be counted at all

Istanbol · 16/10/2025 16:01

worldwidetravel2017 · 16/10/2025 09:20

I may discuss with him in a year or two

We went through a lot with ivf ..

I know hes always been open that given how bad things got between his own parents - he wasnt ever keen for marriage

I went through some childhood trauma and due to such - never had strong wants re marriage with anyone .

Show quote history

Marriage doesn’t stop bad things happening in a relationship but what it does do is give you financial certainty should the worse happen.

ItsFineReally · 16/10/2025 18:46

Drawback · 16/10/2025 11:34

One risk with a LISA is that it will be counted as savings if you need to claim UC (which could happen if your DP loses his job or if you split up and are left as a single parent). Any amount over £6k would be counted and reduce the amount you could claim, and if you have over £16k you wouldn't be able to claim anything. Whereas you could have any amount, even over £16k, in a pension and it wouldn't be counted at all

Show quote history

Very true.

Original poster
worldwidetravel2017 · 08/11/2025 14:39

InveterateWineDrinker · 15/10/2025 13:46

Even though you're not working, the pension provider should be able to claim tax relief on that contribution, so £100 goes in and the tax man puts £25 in a few weeks later.

Definitely worth it.

You can put up to £3600 gross per year in as a non-taxpayer - so that's £2880 in cash and £720 in tax relief.

Spoke to them today

They said i can contribute up to 60k each tax year
As member contributions

OP posts:
InveterateWineDrinker · 08/11/2025 16:42

worldwidetravel2017 · 08/11/2025 14:39

Spoke to them today

They said i can contribute up to 60k each tax year
As member contributions

Show quote history

No, not completely true.

The maximum you can contribute to a pension each tax year is your UK earnings, subject to the pension allowance of £60k.

If you are not earning, then the maximum is £3,600 gross which is £2,880 before the tax relief.

Superscientist · 09/11/2025 14:10

I think maybe he needs to separate out his parents relationship and marriage in general. You can get bad relationships with and without marriage.
We got a civil partnership a 2 years ago. We did the 2+2 option on a Tuesday morning we could only have ourselves and 2 witnesses. It cost us £35 each for the notice and £57 for the "ceremony" it took less than 20 minutes including the checks that we were happy to marry one another and were who we said we were. I didn't change my name and we don't wear rings. Most people, including my parents!, don't know we have done it. He was my partner before and he is my partner now we don't use the terms husband/wife. It's given us some financial protection and reduced our unnecessary admin! We were getting a bit fed up of having to complete forms to switch the beneficiary of things from nearest relative to my partner.

I'm out of work at the moment and will be putting £100 a month into my pension from the joint account. At the moment my partner pays the bulk of the money into that account and my maternity allowance is paid into that account too.

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