A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to alter the existing inheritance regulations surrounding State Pension payments. Currently, only spouses and civil partners are permitted to inherit a deceased person’s State Pension entitlements. Nevertheless, petition founder Adrienne Allen-Laing is campaigning for people to be granted the option to “nominate a beneficiary such as their child, long-term cohabiting partner, or carer” or receive a “lump sum”.
The ‘Allow State Pension to be passed to children, long-term partners, and dependents’ petition has been published on the UK Government’s Petitions Parliament website. Should it reach 10,000 signatures of support, it would warrant a written response, reports the Daily Record.
The petition says: “We ask the Government to change State Pension inheritance rules so that people can nominate a beneficiary such as their child, long-term cohabiting partner, or carer – or offer them a lump sum – so it is not just a spouse or civil partner inheriting from the pension as at present.
“State Pension benefits can only be inherited by a spouse/civil partner. Unmarried partners, adult children, or other dependents are excluded, even if financially dependent. Many may support adult children with disabilities, or are cared for by someone other than a spouse or civil partner.”
“We believe in having a system that recognises real-world relationships and dependency; allowing people to nominate a beneficiary, or offer a lump sum to dependents, could help protect vulnerable loved ones from financial hardship after bereavement.”
State Pension payments don’t automatically cease when someone passes away; there are necessary steps to take. It’s crucial to inform the Pension Service of the death to halt payments, which can be done by ringing the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469.
You might be eligible for additional payments from your deceased spouse’s or civil partner’s State Pension, but this is contingent on their National Insurance Contributions and the date they reached the State Pension age. If you’re yet to reach State Pension age, Bereavement benefits may also be available to you.
Inheritance: Basic State Pension
If a spouse or civil partner reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, GOV.UK advises contacting the Pension Service following the person’s death to ascertain what can be claimed. It’s possible that they could boost their Basic State Pension using the deceased’s qualifying years if they’re not already receiving the full amount.
If people have reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, or are below the State Pension age when their spouse or civil partner passes away, they can use the “Your partner’s National Insurance record and your State Pension” tool on the UK Government website to check what inheritance they might be entitled to.
For those who are single, divorced, or have had their civil partnership dissolved, it’s possible that their estate could claim a portion of a Basic State Pension. This applies if the person passes away after reaching State Pension age, and only if the State Pension has not been claimed. In such cases, the estate can claim up to three months of the Basic State Pension.
Once someone reaches State Pension age, they can choose to defer payments if they wish to continue working. This decision will actually increase payments when they eventually decide to claim by around £660 each year.
According to guidance on GOV.UK, anyone who has topped up their State Pension may have a spouse or civil partner who could inherit some or all of the top-up. A person might be able to inherit an additional payment on top of their new State Pension if they are widowed.
However, a person cannot inherit anything if they remarry or form a new civil partnership before they reach State Pension age. If a marriage or civil partnership began before April 6, 2016 and one of the following circumstances applies, then a person may be entitled to inherit part of their deceased partner’s Additional State Pension.
These include:
- The deceased partner reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
- They died before April 6, 2016 but would have reached State Pension age on or after that date
Inheriting a protected payment
A person will inherit half of their partner’s protected payment if their marriage or civil partnership with them began before April 6, 2016, and:
- Their State Pension age is on or after April 6, 2016
- They died on or after April 6, 2016
- This payment will be made with the State Pension
Inheriting extra State Pension or a lump sum
A person may inherit part or all of their partner’s extra State Pension or lump sum if:
- Their partner passed away while they were deferring their State Pension or had started claiming it after deferring.
- They reached State pension age before April 6, 2016.
- They were married or in the civil partnership when they passed away.
You can check your State Pension to calculate how much money you will receive on the GOV.UK website here.
State Pension payments 2025/26
Full New State Pension
- Weekly payment: £230.25
- Four-weekly payment: £921
- Annual amount: £11,973
Full Basic State Pension
- Weekly payment: £176.45
- Four-weekly payment: £705.80
- Annual amount: £9,175
