DEAR TRICIA

Need some practical financial advice? YOUR MONEY Editor Tricia Phillips and her team can help

QMy wife has worked since she was 15 and only gets £250 state pension a month. We were told by HMRC she had only 17 years in National Insurance contributions. Surely this cannot be right?

We get questions like this all the time and it’s the reason we did our feature last week to try to warn people they may not be on track to get the full state pension amount.

A lot of people are finding some gaps in their NI records after years of hard graft. Or they are getting less

Abecause they were contracted out of the additional state pension before 2016. If your wife doesn’t think hers is right, she should ask for an NI record statement from HMRC via gov.uk/check-national-insurancerecord, or call 0300 200 3500.

QI want to add my new wife’s name to my mortgage agreement. What’s the difference between joint tenants and tenants in common? We both have children and I want to ensure everything is straightforward and each gets their share on our deaths.

AOn death, a tenants-in-common agreement would ensure your percentage share of the property would pass into your estate. Joint tenancy would pass the property to the surviving spouse. You may want to research a property trust too.

QIs the EHIC still valid for this summer? We are off to Spain in August and wondered if we need to take it with us?

Yes, it is still valid. The UK is not looking likely to leave the EU until at least October 31. But do ensure you have travel insurance as well.

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