§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the state retirement pension entitlements are of women who are married to younger husbands. [162686]
§ Malcolm WicksA married woman may be entitled to a State Pension in her own right if she has paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions herself.
However, a married woman can also become entitled to a State Pension based on her husband's contributions but only when they have both reached State Pension age and claim their State Pension.
If she is entitled to a pension in her own right as well as one based on her husband's contributions, she will be paid at the higher rate.