Spouses and civil partners of people who joined the armed forces on an overseas posting will be given a new national insurance credit that counts towards their state pension.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said this was to ensure they don't miss out on their state income. Up to 20,000 armed forces spouses may be eligible.
The department argued that spouses and civil partners may have been unable to work while abroad, and would therefore have been unable to make national insurance contributions.
Any gaps in contributions could "seriously reduce" the amount people receive when they reach state pension age.
Yesterday the UK government launched the new state pension, which requires 35 qualifying years of national insurance contributions for a full rate of £155.65 per week. At least 10 years are needed for a proportionately lowered amount.
Pensions minister Ros Altmann said: "Our armed forces protect our country and it is only right that in turn, we help protect their partners' ability to receive the full state pension when they reach state pension age."
Defence secretary Michael Fallon said: "We are making sure that military spouses and partners who spend time based overseas get the state pension they deserve.
"This is the latest step under the armed forces covenant to ensure that service personnel and their families are treated fairly."
The new credit has been taken forward under the armed forces covenant, which states that members and their families should receive fair treatment from the nation, which they serve.
The new credit covers the years spent abroad from 6 April 1975 onwards.
