DWP State Pension inheritance rules and payments after the death of a spouse or partner explained

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) manages the State Pension, which currently provides a steady income for almost 12.7 million older people in the UK. Those who have reached the UK Government’s eligible retirement age – now 66 for both men and women – and have been contributing to National Insurance for at least 10 years can access it.

Around 3.4 million people now receive payments of up to £221.20 each week from the new state pension. As this contributory benefit is usually paid every four weeks, it works out to £884.80 per pay period, according to the Daily Record.

Most claimants (9.3 million) receive basic 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.

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Men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953 are entitled to the basic state pension, while those born after these dates will receive the new state pension, the Mirror reports.

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 rundown of what you need to know.

State pension payments after someone dies

When a loved one dies, it is important that you take steps to ensure that your State Pension claim is handled properly. Here are the main things to remember:.

**Stop Payments:**.

– Contact the Pensions Service on 0800 731 0469 to inform them of the death and stop the pension payment.

**State pension rights:**.

– You may be eligible for additional payments from the deceased’s state pension, depending on their national insurance contributions and when they reached state pension age.

– Death benefits may also be available if you have not yet reached state pension age.

**State pension inheritance:**.

– If your spouse or civil partner reached state pension age before 6 April 2016, contact the Pensions Service to explore potential claims.

– You may be able to increase your own state pension using the deceased’s qualifying years.

**Eligibility Assessment Tool:**.

– The UK Government website provides a tool called ‘Your Partner’s National Insurance and State Pension Fact Sheet’ to help you determine your eligibility.

**Inheritance for unmarried individuals:**.

– The estates of unmarried, divorced or dissolved civil partnership persons may claim part of the deceased’s basic state pension.

Remember to contact the Pensions Service for guidance and to ensure that all necessary steps are taken. .

If someone dies after reaching state pension age without claiming the state pension, their estate can claim up to three months of the basic state pension.

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

According to GOV. In the UK, anyone who has increased their State Pension may have some or all of the amount inherited by their spouse or civil partner.

A person can inherit an additional payment on top of the new state pension 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 conditions applies, then a person can inherit part of their deceased partner’s supplementary state pension.

If a person’s marriage or civil partnership with their partner began before 6 April 2016 and State Pension age is on or after 6 April 2016 or died on or after 6 April 2016, they will inherit half of the protected value of the partner. the payment. This payment will be made with the state pension.

If your partner has unfortunately passed away, you may be entitled to inherit some or all of your supplementary 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 either 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.