How Much Is the UK State Pension For a Couple In 2024/25?
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The State Pension is a regular pensioner benefit made by the Government to people who have made enough National Insurance contributions during their working lives (this is different to a private pension or workplace pension). Being above the State Pension age is different to that of the UK retirement age as well.
If you’re married and you’re entitled to the UK State Pension, you may be wondering how much you and your spouse can receive. Here, we’ve covered all the information you’ll need surrounding this topic, including how much the State Pension is for couples in the UK during the 2023/2024 tax year.
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In this article:
- Is there a special State Pension for married couples?
- When can I claim State Pension?
- How much is the state pension for married couples?
- Who is eligible for the New State Pension?
- What happens to your State Pension as a couple if you go into a care home?
Is There A Special State Pension For Married Couples?
There aren’t any special State Pension arrangements for married couples or people in a civil partnership. Each partner in the marriage or civil partnership needs to build up their own State Pension through qualifying years. You can do this by meeting State Pension eligibility criteria over time, not just from employment but also through other contributions such as self-employment and carer’s credits.
As a married couple you aren’t able to benefit from your spouse's individual state pension (which will cease when that person dies).
However, if you’re a woman who paid the reduced rate - ‘married woman’s contributions’ - you might be able to claim a higher State Pension based on your spouse’s National Insurance contributions.
When Can I Claim State Pension?
There are currently some changes to the State Pension age. For people reaching the State Pension age now, it’ll be age 66 for men and women. For those born after 5th April 1960, there will be a phased increase in the State Pension age to 67, and eventually to 68.
Knowing your exact State Pension age and your retirement income will make preparing for retirement easier.
Check your State Pension age here.
How Much Is the State Pension For Married Couples?
How much State Pension you’re eligible for (your State Pension forecast) can often be complicated, but here’s a general overview to make things simpler for you.
If you’ve nearly reached State Pension age, the best way to work out how much you’re entitled to - whether single or part of a couple - is by getting a State Pension forecast.
Basic State Pension for 2024/25
As a single person for the 2024/25 tax year, you’ll get the full £169.50 per week in Basic State Pension (up from £156.20 in 2023/24 - an increase of 8.5%) if you’ve built up enough qualifying years.
If you’re married or in a civil partnership and both you and your partner have built up the full number of qualifying years, you’ll get double this amount - £339 between you.
To qualify for the full amount as a man, you’ll need:
- 30 qualifying years (if you were born between 1945 and 1951)
- 44 qualifying years (if you were born before 1945)
To qualify for the full amount as a woman, you’ll need:
- 30 qualifying years (if you were born between 1950 and 1953)
- 39 qualifying years (if you were born before 1950)
| Weekly 2024/25 Basic State Pension Amount For An Individual | Weekly 2024/25 Basic State Pension For A Couple |
|---|---|
| £169.50 | £339 |
At the same time, if you’re a married woman but don’t have the full number of qualifying years and your spouse retired before April 2016, you might be entitled to claim the married woman’s rate we previously mentioned. This is 60% of the Basic State Pension your spouse gets. So, if he gets the full Basic State Pension, you’d receive £101.70 (60% of £169.50).
If your Basic State Pension is less than 60% of your spouse’s, you might be entitled to a top-up and should get in touch with the Pension Service.
New State Pension for 2024/25
The full rate for the New State Pension for the 2024/25 tax year is £221.20 (up from £203.85 in 2023/24 - an increase of 8.5%). If you and your partner have built up the full 35 qualifying years, you’ll get double this amount as a married couple. This comes to £442.40 between you.
If one or both of you don’t have the full number of qualifying years, it’ll be less.
| Weekly 2024/25 New State Pension Amount For An Individual | Weekly 2024/25 New State Pension For A Couple |
|---|---|
| £221.20 | £442.40 |
Who Is Eligible For the New State Pension?
You can claim the New State Pension if you’re:
- A man born on or after 6th April 1951
- A woman born on or after 6th April 1953
The earliest you can get this New State Pension is when you reach State Pension age.
You’ll need 35 qualifying years to be eligible for the New full State Pension. If you have between 10 and 35 qualifying years, you’ll get a proportion of the New State Pension instead (these years don’t need to be consecutive).
A qualifying year means at least one of the following applied to you:
- You were working and paid NI contributions
- You were receiving National Insurance credits (you may have been unemployed, ill, a parent or carer)
- You were paying voluntary NI contributions
You might also qualify if you’ve paid married women’s or widow’s reduced rate contributions.
What Happens To Your State Pension As a Couple If You Go Into a Care Home?
If you or your partner move into a care home, you’ll still get your Basic State Pension or New State Pension. However, if your care home fees aren't paid in full or part by the local authority, NHS or out of other public funds, you might have to use your State Retirement Pension to pay towards part of the care costs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do husbands and wives get separate state pensions?
Yes, husbands and wives get a separate state pension. There are no longer any special state pension arrangements for married couples. This means each partner in the marriage or civil partnership needs to build up their own State Pension through qualifying.
How much state pension does a married woman get?
Many married women are entitled to a Basic State Pension at 60% of the full rate because of their husband’s record of National Insurance contributions. This can happen in circumstances where their own record of contributions would provide a lower pension. For 2024/25, the full Basic State Pension is £169.50, so the rate for married women claiming on this basis would be £101.70 (60% of £169.50).
What happens to my husband’s state pension when he dies?
Your husband’s State Pension will normally stop being paid when he passes away. But sometimes, you could be able to inherit some of his State Pension. This depends on the amount of contributions you both made, and when you both reached (or will reach) State Pension age (before or after 6th April 2016).
How much is a widow’s state pension in the UK?
The Widow’s Pension was phased out in 2001 and has since been replaced by Bereavement Support Payments. This is paid in monthly instalments, with the amount you receive depending on whether or not you have children. Those without children will receive up to £100 every month, whereas this can rise to £350 if you have children. UK citizens who have lost a partner may also be entitled to a one-off bereavement payment. This is normally a tax-free lump sum of £2,500, but may increase to £3,500 if you have children.
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Written by our team of experts and designed to help families fund later life care in England.
