How Much Is the UK State Pension For a Couple In 2023/24?

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.

In this article:

1. Is there a special State Pension for married couples?
2. When can I claim State Pension?
3. How much is the state pension for married couples?
4. Who is eligible for the New State Pension?
5. 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. They can’t benefit from their spouse’s 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 2023/24

As a single person for the 2023/24 tax year, you’ll get the full £156.20 per week in Basic State Pension (up from £141.85 in 2022/23 - an increase of 10.1%) 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 - £312.40 between you.

In his Autumn Statement, Jeremy Hunt announced that the State Pension will increase by a further 8.5% in April 2024. This will see the Basic State Pension rise to £169.50 a week, or £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)

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 £93.72 (60% of £156.20).

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 2023/24

The full rate for the New State Pension for the 2023/24 tax year is £203.85 (up from £185.15 in 2022/23 - an increase of 10.1%). 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 £407.70 between you.

If one or both of you don’t have the full number of qualifying years, it’ll be less.

Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement announcement will also see the New State Pension increase. From April 2024, this will be worth £221.20 a week, or £442.40 between you.

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

What Happens To Your State Pension As a Couple If You Go Into a Care Home?

If you or your partner go into a care home, you’ll still get your Basic State Pension or New State Pension. However, if your care home fees are 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.

We’re on a mission to support individuals and their loved ones throughout each stage of their later living journey. For more information, check out everything Lottie has to offer.