State pension query

Thoie

Sorry if this has been covered before, I can't find reference to it.

A family member, in her early 60s is approaching retirement age. Due to the laws (marriage bar, abolished in 1973) in place at the time, when she got married she had to stop working. Because of this, she won't have enough stamps for a contributory old age pension. She has a husband of a similar age who will be eligible for the contributory pension.

Question 1. While her husband is still alive, will she be means tested for a non-contrib pension? Or will she be counted as his dependant? In either case, will she end up with less than she would on the contrib pension, assuming her husband has other income?

Question 2. When her husband dies, will she then only be eligible for non-contrib pension?

Question 3. Is there still a widows pension, or was that only for people under pensionable age?

There was some talk of this about a year ago, (here and here ) but I haven't heard anything else since, and no idea what the outcome was.

Anyone have any idea what the situation is?

Thoie

Any ideas?

Macker18

Q1 She will be treated as a dependent

Q2 No she will quality for a widows pension or full contributory pension based on her husbands contributions (both are the same) she can't get both

Q3 Yes See Q2

Gael23

He will get exta for her as a dependant but im not sure how much. If he dies before her she will get a widows pension and half his employment pension if he has one