A new petition is urging the UK Government to change inheritance rules
A new online petition is pushing the UK Government to overhaul existing inheritance regulations surrounding State Pension payments. Currently, the policy restricts inheritance of a deceased person’s State Pension to spouses and civil partners only.
But petition founder Adrienne Allen-Laing is campaigning for people to have 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 launched on the UK Government’s Petitions Parliament website.
Should it garner 10,000 signatures, it will be entitled to an official written response, reports the Daily Record.
The petition states: “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 after someone dies
When someone passes away, their State Pension claim doesn’t simply cease – there are important steps to follow. You must notify the Pension Service immediately to halt payments, which can be done by ringing the helpline on 0800 731 0469.
Depending on your late spouse’s or civil partner’s National Insurance Contributions and when they reached State Pension age, you could be entitled to additional payments from their State Pension.
If you’ve not yet reached State Pension age yourself, Bereavement benefits may also be available to you.
Inheritance: Basic State Pension
For those whose spouse or civil partner reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, GOV.UK advises contacting the Pension Service following a death to establish what can be claimed.
It’s possible to boost your Basic State Pension using the deceased’s qualifying years if you’re not already receiving the full amount. For those who reached State Pension age on or after April 6, 2016, or are below State Pension age when their spouse or civil partner passes away, the “Your partner’s National Insurance record and your State Pension” tool on the UK Government website allows people to verify what inheritance they might be entitled to.
For single, divorced people, or those whose civil partnership has been dissolved, their estate may be able to claim a portion of a Basic State Pension.
This applies if the person dies after reaching State Pension age, and only if the State Pension hadn’t been claimed. In such cases, the estate can claim up to three months of the Basic State Pension.
Extra money from deferring State Pension
Upon reaching State Pension age, people can choose to defer payments if they wish to continue working. This decision will boost payments when they eventually claim by approximately £660 annually.
State Pension top-up
According to guidance on GOV.UK, if someone has topped up their State Pension, their spouse or civil partner may be eligible to inherit some or all of that top-up.
Inheritance: New State Pension.
A person may be entitled to inherit an additional payment on top of their new State Pension if they’re widowed.
However, nothing can be inherited if they remarry or enter a new civil partnership before reaching State Pension age.
Inheriting additional State Pension
If a marriage or civil partnership was established prior to April 6, 2016 and one of the following conditions is met, a person may be entitled to inherit a portion of their deceased partner’s Additional State Pension. These conditions 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 commenced 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 additional State Pension or a lump sum
A person may inherit part or all of their partner’s extra State Pension or lump sum if:
- They died 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 died.
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
