The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not automatically stop a State Pension claim when a loved one passes away. Understanding the inheritance rules can help you or your family secure entitled payments. Here is a comprehensive guide on what happens to State Pension payments after a death.
State Pension Payments After a Death
When someone dies, you must inform the Pension Service to stop payments. Call the Pension Service helpline at 0800 731 0469. You may be entitled to extra payments based on your deceased spouse's or civil partner's National Insurance Contributions and the date they reached State Pension age. If you have not yet reached State Pension age, you might also qualify for Bereavement benefits.
Inheritance: Basic State Pension
If your spouse or civil partner reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, contact the Pension Service after their death to check your claim. You may be able to increase your Basic State Pension using their qualifying years if you do not already receive the full amount.
If they reached State Pension age on or after April 6, 2016, or if you are under State Pension age when they die, use the "Your partner's National Insurance record and your State Pension" tool on GOV.UK to check inheritance entitlement.
For single or divorced individuals, or those with dissolved civil partnerships, the estate may claim up to three months of the Basic State Pension if the deceased died after reaching State Pension age and had not claimed it.
Extra Money from Deferring State Pension
If you defer claiming your State Pension after reaching the eligible age, payments increase by approximately £660 each year. This option allows you to continue working while boosting future income.
State Pension Top-Up
If you have topped up your State Pension, your spouse or civil partner may inherit some or all of that top-up amount. Check GOV.UK guidance for details.
Inheritance: New State Pension
If widowed, you may inherit an extra payment on top of your New State Pension. However, if you remarry or form a new civil partnership before reaching State Pension age, you cannot inherit anything.
Inheriting Additional State Pension
If your marriage or civil partnership began before April 6, 2016, and one of these applies, you may inherit part of the Additional State Pension: the deceased reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or they died before April 6, 2016 but would have reached that age on or after that date.
Inheriting a Protected Payment
You will inherit half of your partner's protected payment if your marriage or civil partnership began before April 6, 2016, and their State Pension age is on or after April 6, 2016, and they died on or after that date. This payment is made with your State Pension.
Inheriting Extra State Pension or Lump Sum
You may inherit part or all of your partner's extra State Pension or lump sum if they died while deferring their State Pension or after starting to claim it following deferral, they reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, and you were married or in a civil partnership at the time of death.
For personalized calculations, use the State Pension checker on GOV.UK.
