Do Married Couples Get a Joint State Pension in the UK? Separate State Pensions Explained

In this article, I’ll explain how the state pension system works for married couples in the UK, what benefits might be available, and how to make the most of your retirement planning as a couple.

Do Married Couples Get a Joint State Pension?

To be clear from the start, married people in the UK do not get a joint state pension. Instead, each person gets their own separate state pension based on how much they paid into National Insurance.

The idea of a “married couple’s pension” was taken away years ago when the state pension system was changed. Now, your pension is based only on your own record with National Insurance, not the record of your spouse.

This means:

• Each partner qualifies for their own separate pension
• Your entitlement depends on your own National Insurance contributions
• Being married doesn’t automatically allow sharing of pension entitlements
• Each spouse needs to understand their own pension situation

How Does the State Pension Work for Individuals?

The State Pension changed significantly on 6 April 2016. This change affects men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953.

Under the new State Pension rules:

• You typically need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions to get the full new State Pension
• You’ll need at least 10 ‘qualifying years’ on your National Insurance record to get any State Pension
• The full amount of the new State Pension is £230.25 a week (2025 to 2026 rate)
• Your pension is based on your individual National Insurance record

A ‘qualifying year’ can be built up through:

• Being employed and earning over £242 a week (2025/26) from one employer
• Being employed and earning between £125 and £242 a week
• Being self-employed and paying Class 2 National Insurance contributions
• Making voluntary National Insurance contributions
• Receiving National Insurance credits

Eligibility Criteria for State Pensions

Each person must have paid enough into National Insurance in order to be eligible for the State Pension. Here’s a breakdown of the eligibility criteria:

• Full new State Pension: You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits
• Partial State Pension: If you have between 10 and 35 years, you’ll get a proportion of the full amount
• Less than 10 years: You won’t usually get any State Pension

It’s important for both partners in a marriage to understand their own National Insurance record. Even if one partner has a lower record, being married doesn’t allow for automatic sharing of pension entitlements.

Advantages of Separate State Pensions for Married Couples

There are actually some benefits to having separate state pensions:

1. Individual Financial Independence—Each partner has their own pension, which protects their financial freedom. This is particularly important if one partner outlives the other.

2. Fair Distribution Based on Contributions – Each person receives a pension that reflects their own work history and contributions.

3. Maximisation of Pension Benefits – If both partners have a full National Insurance record, they could potentially receive double the amount they would as a single entity.

4. Flexibility in Pension Planning – Each partner can decide when to start claiming their pension, which can be strategically chosen based on individual or joint financial needs.

5. Eligibility for Additional Benefits – Having separate pensions means each partner may qualify for additional benefits and allowances based on their individual circumstances.

Disadvantages of Separate State Pensions

On the flip side, there are some potential drawbacks:

1. Potential for Lower Combined Income – If one partner has a significantly lower National Insurance record, the combined pension income for the couple may be less than if they were to receive a joint pension.

2. Complexity in Benefits Eligibility – Separate pensions can lead to complexity when determining eligibility for certain benefits like universal credit or pension credit.

3. Increased Responsibility for Individual Contributions – Each person is responsible for ensuring they have a sufficient National Insurance record, which can be challenging for those with career breaks.

4. Lack of Shared Benefits in Retirement – Unlike some private pensions, state pensions don’t provide direct financial benefit to the surviving spouse upon death.

5. Requirement for Individual Tax Filing – Managing tax matters can be more complicated with separate pensions.

Special Circumstances: Inheriting State Pension

While married couples don’t get a joint state pension, there are some circumstances where you might be able to inherit some of your spouse’s State Pension:

You may be able to inherit an extra payment on top of your new State Pension if you are widowed or a surviving civil partner. This will depend on whether your deceased spouse:

• Reached State Pension age or died before 6 April 2016, or
• Reached State Pension age, or died under State Pension age after 5 April 2016

It’s worth noting that if you remarry or form a new civil partnership before you reach State Pension age, you won’t be able to inherit anything from your deceased spouse.

Tax Implications for Pension Income

When it comes to tax, each person’s State Pension counts as taxable income. This means:

• You must declare your state pension as part of your taxable income when completing your annual Self Assessment tax return
• Married couples need to consider the impact of other sources of income on their tax position
• Tax credits may still be applicable depending on the couple’s income and circumstances
• It’s advisable to seek personalised advice to ensure you’re using tax allowances and thresholds efficiently

Financial Support for Low-Income Retirees

If your State Pension income is low, there are additional benefits you might be eligible for:

Pension Credit

This comes in two parts:

• Guarantee Credit – tops up your weekly income to a minimum level
• Savings Credit – for those who have saved some money towards retirement

Pension Credit is available to individuals or couples, and the amount received depends on your circumstances, including income and savings.

NHS Benefits

For those over 60:

• Free NHS eye tests
• Potential eligibility for NHS optical vouchers
• Free prescriptions depending on health needs

Real-Life Example: John and Mary

Let me share a quick example to illustrate how this works:

John and Mary are both in their early 60s and recently retired. They’ve been married for 35 years. John has a complete National Insurance contribution record, but Mary took time off work to raise their children and has only a partial record.

John receives his full state pension based on his contributions. Mary gets a smaller state pension based on her own contributions. To supplement her income, Mary applies for Pension Credit and receives the Guarantee Credit element, which provides additional financial support.

Both take advantage of free NHS sight tests as they’re over 60. John, who has an eye condition requiring complex lenses, uses an NHS optical voucher to reduce the cost of his glasses.

How to Check Your State Pension

It’s important for each person to check their own State Pension forecast. You can do this online using the Check your State Pension service at www.gov.uk/check-state-pension.

This service provides:

• Your State Pension age
• An estimate of how much State Pension you may get
• Information on whether you can increase this amount
• Your National Insurance contribution history

Key Takeaways

Here’s what you need to remember about state pensions for married couples in the UK:

• Married individuals receive separate state pensions based on their own National Insurance records
• Couples do not receive a joint pension
• Each partner’s pension entitlement is calculated individually
• Understanding the tax implications of individual pensions is crucial for effective financial planning
• Low-income retirees may be eligible for supplementary financial support through Pension Credit
• NHS benefits like free eye tests are available to each individual regardless of marital status

The UK state pension system treats married couples as individuals, with each person’s pension based on their own National Insurance contribution record. This separation highlights the importance of individual financial planning and understanding the benefits each person is entitled to.

It’s essential for both partners to ensure they have sufficient contributions to secure their financial future. Take a proactive approach to understand your pensions and additional benefits to make the most of your retirement years.

Have you checked your State Pension forecast recently? It might be worth taking a few minutes to do so – it could make a big difference to your retirement planning!