I'm posting this on behalf of my Mother who is looking for some advice. My Father has unfortunately recently died. He and my Mother separated about 20 years ago. A few years later they were granted a Decree Nisi but for various reasons never followed up to get a decree absolute. My Father has been living with his partner(aged 59) for about 19 years, but obviously they never married. My question is has my Mother(aged 68) any claim to my Father's private/state pension? She has her own small private pension and her own state pension. As I understand it, her state pension is based on the years she was in work i.e. not "claiming" the years she was married to my Father when she was a housewife and Mother and not in work. I would be most grateful for any advice you can offer. Many thanks.

This is my first post so forgive me if it is not posted in the correct thread. I'm posting this on behalf of my Mother who is looking for some advice. My Father has unfortunately recently died. He and my Mother separated about 20 years ago. A few years later they were granted a Decree Nisi but for various reasons never followed up to get a decree absolute. My Father has been living with his partner(aged 59) for about 19 years, but obviously they never married. My question is has my Mother(aged 68) any claim to my Father's private/state pension? She has her own small private pension and her own state pension. As I understand it, her state pension is based on the years she was in work i.e. not "claiming" the years she was married to my Father when she was a housewife and Mother and not in work. I would be most grateful for any advice you can offer. Many thanks.