War widow must divorce and remarry second husband to claim first husband's military pension =========================================================================================== ![War widow must divorce and remarry second husband to claim first husbands military pension](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/eff4f2bb1341f71f301c95238981300d.jpeg)Susan Rimmer from Otley, West Yorkshire, has been told by the Ministry of Defence that she must divorce and remarry her second husband in order to claim her first husband's military pension. Private Jim Lee, Mrs Rimmer's first husband, was killed while serving in Ireland in 1972. She was aware that, when she married her current husband in 1989, the rules at the time meant that she would forfeit her first husband's military pension. However, in 2014 the government announced their plan to amend the rules, which had at that point denied military pensions to over 4,000 widows and widowers. In April last year these changes came into effect so those who remarry, cohabit or enter a civil partnership would still be entitled to a military pension for life. Mrs Rimmer, along with hundreds of others, assumed that she would be included in this change of regulations. Not according to the MOD. As she remarried before 2005, the arbitrary cut off point for those who have remarried, she has been told she will be unable to claim her dead husband's military pension. There is, however, a loophole. If Mrs Rimmer were to divorce her new husband and remarry him, or if he were to die, she would be entitled to Jim's pension. "The MOD told me that I could only get it if I got divorced or if David dies." She [told](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3585371/MoD-tells-war-widow-ll-divorce-remarry-second-husband-claim-husband-s-military-pension.html) the *Daily Mail* "It is not a nice thing to be thinking of, as last year was very difficult after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer." "Why do we have to go through this? Nobody wants to get a divorce, especially when you love your husband and have a good one like I do. It is not about the money but the principal . All war widows should be treated the same. If it really comes down to it, we might have to do it but it is just really sad. I don't want to have to get divorced." Mrs Rimmer is now set to meet with Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss the matter further. "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) More Divorce news ----------------- [Over 50 and seeking a divorce? Be prepared to sell your family home](https://vardags.com/family-law/50-divorce-sell-family-home "Over 50 and seeking a divorce? Be prepared to sell your family home") [Amber Heard files for divorce from Johnny Depp](https://vardags.com/family-law/amber-heard-files-for-divorce-from-johnny-depp "Amber Heard files for divorce from Johnny Depp") [War widow must divorce and remarry second husband to claim first husband's military pension](https://vardags.com/family-law/widow-divorce-remarry-second-husband-claim-pension "War widow must divorce and remarry second husband to claim first husbands military pension") [Prison for married couple who breached financial orders](https://vardags.com/family-law/prison-married-couple-breached-financial-orders "Prison for married couple who breached financial orders") [Divorce lawsuit against billionaire Steven A. Cohen dismissed](https://vardags.com/family-law/steven-cohen-lawsuit-dismissed "Divorce lawsuit against billionaire Steven A. Cohen dismissed")