{"id":521323,"date":"2025-10-23T04:44:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T04:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/521323\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T04:44:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T04:44:20","slug":"new-call-for-dwp-to-change-state-pension-payment-inheritance-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/521323\/","title":{"rendered":"New call for DWP to change State Pension payment inheritance rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

An online petition proposes that individuals should be able to nominate a beneficiary for their State Pension.<\/p>\n

14:14, 20 Oct 2025Updated 13:56, 22 Oct 2025<\/p>\n

A new online petition is urging the UK Government to change the current inheritance rules<\/a> around State Pension payments. Under the current policy, only spouses and civil partners can inherit a deceased loved one\u2019s State Pension payments.<\/p>\n

However, petition creator<\/a> Adrienne Allen-Laing is calling for individuals to be given the ability to \u201cnominate a beneficiary such as their child, long-term cohabiting partner, or carer\u201d or be given a \u201clump sum\u201d.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Allow State Pension to be passed to children, long-term partners, and dependents\u2019 petition has been posted on the UK Government\u2019s Petitions Parliament website<\/a>. At 10,000 signatures of support, it would be entitled to a written response.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: New and Basic State Pension payment rules after a spouse or partner dies<\/a>READ MORE: Inheritance Tax rules simplified and why they could change at the Autumn Budget<\/a><\/p>\n

The petition s<\/a> states: \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cState 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

State Pension payments after someone dies<\/p>\n

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<\/a> so payments stop – you can do this by calling the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>, and the date they reached the State Pension age.<\/p>\n

If you haven’t reached State Pension age yet, you might also be eligible for Bereavement benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Inheritance: Basic State Pension<\/p>\n

Should a spouse or civil partner have reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, then GOV.UK<\/a> instructs people to contact the Pension Service<\/a> once someone dies in order to check what they can claim.<\/p>\n

It may be that they can increase their Basic State Pension by using the deceased\u2019s qualifying years if they do not already get the full amount.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cYour partner\u2019s National Insurance record and your State Pension\u201d tool on the UK Government website<\/a> can enable a person to check what inheritance they may be entitled to.<\/p>\n

For people who are single or divorced<\/a>, or who have had their civil partnership dissolved, it may be that their estate can claim some of a Basic State Pension.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"DepressedAn online petition proposes that individuals should be able to nominate a beneficiary for their State Pension.(Image: Getty)Extra money from deferring State Pension<\/p>\n

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 \u00a3660 each year.<\/p>\n

State Pension top-up<\/p>\n

Guidance on GOV.UK states anyone who has topped up their State Pension<\/a>, the spouse or civil partner may be able to inherit some or all of the top up.<\/p>\n

Inheritance: New State Pension<\/p>\n

It may be that a person is able to inherit an extra payment on top of their new State Pension<\/a> if they are widowed.<\/p>\n

However, an individual cannot inherit anything should they remarry or form a new civil partnership before they reach State Pension age.<\/p>\n

Inheriting additional State Pension<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Additional State Pension. These are:<\/p>\n