Firstly I am not 100% sure on this one Steve, as I contracted out of SERPS and then was advised I would be better off going back in. This left me with a small private pension in addition to my State Pension, I am having a bit of fun with this private pot, which goes up and down like a Fiddlers elbow (I chose the more risky Investment route), but I chose a SIPP which means Self Invested Private Pension, or in other words I choose what funds to Invest this pot in, this is slightly different to leaving it with a Life Insurance Company who would invest it in Funds of there choice, so they may still rise or fall but at a slower rate ( they tend to choose the more safer Funds) which either gain less, but also lose less on a downturn.

As I said earlier Steve, I have no idea about the State Pension contributions, but be careful as Governments can move the goal posts, and seem to be advising people these days, to take out private pensions, which may be advisable in Em's case.