An online petition proposes that individuals should be able to nominate a beneficiary for their State Pension.
A new online petition is urging the UK Government to change the current inheritance rules around State Pension payments. Under the current policy, only spouses and civil partners can inherit a deceased loved one’s State Pension payments.
However, petition creator Adrienne Allen-Laing is calling for individuals to be given the ability to “nominate a beneficiary such as their child, long-term cohabiting partner, or carer” or be given a “lump sum”.
The ‘Allow State Pension to be passed to children, long-term partners, and dependents’ petition has been posted on the UK Government’s Petitions Parliament website. At 10,000 signatures of support, it would be entitled to a written response.
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The petition states: “We ask the Government to change State Pension inheritance rules so that individuals 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
A claim for State Pension won’t just end when someone dies, there are things you need to do. When the person dies, you must inform the Pension Service so payments stop – you can do this by calling the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469.
You may be entitled to extra payments from your deceased spouse’s or civil partner’s State Pension, however, this depends on their National Insurance Contributions, and the date they reached the State Pension age.
If you haven’t reached State Pension age yet, you might also be eligible for Bereavement benefits.
Inheritance: Basic State Pension
Should a spouse or civil partner have reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, then GOV.UK instructs people to contact the Pension Service once someone dies in order to check what they can claim.
It may be that they can increase their Basic State Pension by using the deceased’s qualifying years if they do not already get the full amount.
Should they have reached State Pension age on or after April 6, 2016, or be under State Pension age when their spouse or civil partner dies, the “Your partner’s National Insurance record and your State Pension” tool on the UK Government website can enable a person to check what inheritance they may be entitled to.
For people who are single or divorced, or who have had their civil partnership dissolved, it may be that their estate can claim some of a Basic State Pension.
This is if that person dies after reaching State Pension age, and only if the State Pension had not been claimed. In this circumstance, the estate can claim up to three months of the Basic State Pension.
An online petition proposes that individuals should be able to nominate a beneficiary for their State Pension.(Image: Getty)Extra money from deferring State Pension
Once someone reaches State Pension age they can defer payments if they choose to carry on working. Doing this will actually increase payments when they eventually decide to claim by around £660 each year.
State Pension top-up
Guidance on GOV.UK states anyone who has topped up their State Pension, the spouse or civil partner may be able to inherit some or all of the top up.
Inheritance: New State Pension
It may be that a person is able to inherit an extra payment on top of their new State Pension if they are widowed.
However, an individual cannot inherit anything should they remarry or form a new civil partnership before they reach State Pension age.
Inheriting additional State Pension
If a marriage or civil partnership began before April 6, 2016 and one of the following circumstances applies, then a person may inherit part of their deceased partner’s Additional State Pension. These are:
- 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 of 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
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