State pension inheritance rules after the death of a spouse or partner

The State Pension, which currently provides a regular income for almost 12.7 million older people in the UK, is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

It’s available to those who have reached the UK government’s eligible retirement age – now 66 for both men and women – and have made at least 10 years’ worth of National Insurance contributions.

Around 3.4 million people now receive payments of up to £221.20 each week from New State Pension. As this contributory benefit is usually paid every four weeks, this equates to £884.80 per pay period, the Daily Record reports.

Most claimants (9.3 million) receive basic state pension payments of up to £169.50 each week, equivalent to £648 per pay period. The type of state pension a person receives depends on their date of birth. Men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953 are eligible for the basic state pension, while those born after these dates will receive the new state pension.

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But what happens to State Pension payments when someone dies?

It’s a difficult subject that no one would choose to think about, but understanding what will happen could help you or a family member. Here’s a quick overview of what you need to know.

State pension payments after someone dies

When someone dies, their state pension claim does not automatically stop; there are necessary steps to follow. It is essential that you notify the Pensions Service to stop payments, which can be done by calling the helpline on 0800 731 0469.

Depending on your deceased spouse’s or civil partner’s National Insurance contributions and when they reached State Pension age, you may qualify for additional State Pension payments. For those who have not yet reached state pension age, death benefits may also be an option.

In terms of inheritance and basic state pension, if your spouse or civil partner reached state pension age before 6 April 2016, GOV. The UK advises that you contact the Pensions Service after a death to establish any claims. You could increase your basic state pension by using the deceased’s qualifying years if you are not already receiving the full amount.

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If you or your deceased spouse or civil partner reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, or if you were below State Pension age at the time of your death, the tool ‘Your Partner’s National Insurance Record and State Pension ” from the UK Government website can help you determine what inheritance you may be entitled to.

For people who are single, divorced or have had their civil partner dissolved, it is possible that their estate will claim part of their basic state pension.

If a person dies after reaching state pension age and the state pension has not been claimed, the estate can claim up to three months of the basic state pension.

Delaying State Pension payments can increase payments when they are eventually claimed by around £600 each year for those who choose to continue working past State Pension age.

According to GOV. In the UK, anyone who has topped up their state pension may have some or all of the top-up inherited from their spouse or civil partner.

An additional payment on top of the new state pension can be inherited by a person if they are widowed. However, nothing can be inherited if they remarry or form a new civil partnership before reaching state pension age.

If a marriage or civil partnership began before 6 April 2016 and one of the following circumstances applies, then a person can inherit part of their deceased partner’s supplementary state pension.

Half of a partner’s protected pay will be inherited by a person if their marriage or civil partnership began before 6 April 2016 and their State Pension age is on or after 6 April 2016 or if they died on or after 6 April 2016 This payment will be made with the State Pension.

If your partner has died, you may be entitled to inherit some or all of your additional state pension or lump sum. This applies if they were deferring their state pension or started claiming it after deferral, reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 and were married or in a civil partnership at the time of death.

You can work out how much you could get by checking your state pension on GOV. UK site.

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