Does State Pension Pass to Wife Upon Death?
Discussion
Husband is in receipt of state pension, commenced in Sept 2025. Wife reaches state pension age in Jan 29. Wife stopped work early to care for husband. Husband expected to die 2026/27. Will wife have any entitlement to husband's state pension pending her reaching her state pension age?
Husband receives former workplace DB pension which will reduce to 50% payable to wife.
I have searched gov info but can't find a clear answer to this scenario.
Husband receives former workplace DB pension which will reduce to 50% payable to wife.
I have searched gov info but can't find a clear answer to this scenario.
Quick google gave this via Ai with a few amendments to make it quicker and easier to read !
Hope that helps.
Based on UK state pension rules, if a husband dies before his wife reaches her own State Pension age the wife will generally not receive his state pension payments directly until she reaches her own state pension age.
However, she may be entitled to alternative financial support and specific inheritance rules upon reaching her state pension age:
1. Immediate Support (Pending Age 66/67)
Bereavement Support Payment: If the husband dies, the wife may be entitled to a Bereavement Support Payment. As of 2025/26, this consists of a one-off lump sum (£2,500 - £3,500) followed by up to 18 monthly payments (£100 - £350 per month).
Benefits (Working Age): Because the wife stopped working early to care for her husband, she should ensure she is registered for Carer’s Credit (if she was caring for 20+ hours a week) to protect her own National Insurance record. She may also be eligible for other income-related benefits (like Universal Credit or Pension Credit, depending on the exact date of his death and her age).
2. Entitlement Upon Reaching State Pension Age
When the wife reaches her state pension age, she may inherit part of her husband's state pension, provided she has not remarried or formed a new civil partnership.
Additional State Pension (SERPS/State Second Pension): If her husband was in receipt of an Additional State Pension (sometimes called SERPS or State Second Pension), she may be able to inherit up to 50% of this amount.
New State Pension Rules: Since she reaches state pension age after April 6, 2016, the rules for inheriting the basic state pension are different. Generally, she cannot inherit his basic state pension. However, she may inherit some of his "protected payment" (any amount he received in excess of the standard new state pension).
NI Contributions Check: Because she took time off to care, her own state pension might not be full. Her husband’s NI record cannot be used to increase her basic state pension under the new system, but her own record is boosted by the NI credits she received while caring.
Hope that helps.
Based on UK state pension rules, if a husband dies before his wife reaches her own State Pension age the wife will generally not receive his state pension payments directly until she reaches her own state pension age.
However, she may be entitled to alternative financial support and specific inheritance rules upon reaching her state pension age:
1. Immediate Support (Pending Age 66/67)
Bereavement Support Payment: If the husband dies, the wife may be entitled to a Bereavement Support Payment. As of 2025/26, this consists of a one-off lump sum (£2,500 - £3,500) followed by up to 18 monthly payments (£100 - £350 per month).
Benefits (Working Age): Because the wife stopped working early to care for her husband, she should ensure she is registered for Carer’s Credit (if she was caring for 20+ hours a week) to protect her own National Insurance record. She may also be eligible for other income-related benefits (like Universal Credit or Pension Credit, depending on the exact date of his death and her age).
2. Entitlement Upon Reaching State Pension Age
When the wife reaches her state pension age, she may inherit part of her husband's state pension, provided she has not remarried or formed a new civil partnership.
Additional State Pension (SERPS/State Second Pension): If her husband was in receipt of an Additional State Pension (sometimes called SERPS or State Second Pension), she may be able to inherit up to 50% of this amount.
New State Pension Rules: Since she reaches state pension age after April 6, 2016, the rules for inheriting the basic state pension are different. Generally, she cannot inherit his basic state pension. However, she may inherit some of his "protected payment" (any amount he received in excess of the standard new state pension).
NI Contributions Check: Because she took time off to care, her own state pension might not be full. Her husband’s NI record cannot be used to increase her basic state pension under the new system, but her own record is boosted by the NI credits she received while caring.
alscar said:
Quick google gave this via Ai with a few amendments to make it quicker and easier to read !
Hope that helps.
Based on UK state pension rules, if a husband dies before his wife reaches her own State Pension age the wife will generally not receive his state pension payments directly until she reaches her own state pension age.
However, she may be entitled to alternative financial support and specific inheritance rules upon reaching her state pension age:
1. Immediate Support (Pending Age 66/67)
Bereavement Support Payment: If the husband dies, the wife may be entitled to a Bereavement Support Payment. As of 2025/26, this consists of a one-off lump sum (£2,500 - £3,500) followed by up to 18 monthly payments (£100 - £350 per month).
Benefits (Working Age): Because the wife stopped working early to care for her husband, she should ensure she is registered for Carer s Credit (if she was caring for 20+ hours a week) to protect her own National Insurance record. She may also be eligible for other income-related benefits (like Universal Credit or Pension Credit, depending on the exact date of his death and her age).
2. Entitlement Upon Reaching State Pension Age
When the wife reaches her state pension age, she may inherit part of her husband's state pension, provided she has not remarried or formed a new civil partnership.
Additional State Pension (SERPS/State Second Pension): If her husband was in receipt of an Additional State Pension (sometimes called SERPS or State Second Pension), she may be able to inherit up to 50% of this amount.
New State Pension Rules: Since she reaches state pension age after April 6, 2016, the rules for inheriting the basic state pension are different. Generally, she cannot inherit his basic state pension. However, she may inherit some of his "protected payment" (any amount he received in excess of the standard new state pension).
NI Contributions Check: Because she took time off to care, her own state pension might not be full. Her husband s NI record cannot be used to increase her basic state pension under the new system, but her own record is boosted by the NI credits she received while caring.
Thank you for the speedy and comprehensive reply. The circumstances are "asset rich - cash poor", anything that is means tested will come to zero. It looks like the gap will need to be bridged by house down-sizing. The Carer's Credit to protect NI is a very good point.Hope that helps.
Based on UK state pension rules, if a husband dies before his wife reaches her own State Pension age the wife will generally not receive his state pension payments directly until she reaches her own state pension age.
However, she may be entitled to alternative financial support and specific inheritance rules upon reaching her state pension age:
1. Immediate Support (Pending Age 66/67)
Bereavement Support Payment: If the husband dies, the wife may be entitled to a Bereavement Support Payment. As of 2025/26, this consists of a one-off lump sum (£2,500 - £3,500) followed by up to 18 monthly payments (£100 - £350 per month).
Benefits (Working Age): Because the wife stopped working early to care for her husband, she should ensure she is registered for Carer s Credit (if she was caring for 20+ hours a week) to protect her own National Insurance record. She may also be eligible for other income-related benefits (like Universal Credit or Pension Credit, depending on the exact date of his death and her age).
2. Entitlement Upon Reaching State Pension Age
When the wife reaches her state pension age, she may inherit part of her husband's state pension, provided she has not remarried or formed a new civil partnership.
Additional State Pension (SERPS/State Second Pension): If her husband was in receipt of an Additional State Pension (sometimes called SERPS or State Second Pension), she may be able to inherit up to 50% of this amount.
New State Pension Rules: Since she reaches state pension age after April 6, 2016, the rules for inheriting the basic state pension are different. Generally, she cannot inherit his basic state pension. However, she may inherit some of his "protected payment" (any amount he received in excess of the standard new state pension).
NI Contributions Check: Because she took time off to care, her own state pension might not be full. Her husband s NI record cannot be used to increase her basic state pension under the new system, but her own record is boosted by the NI credits she received while caring.
For reasons that I have never fully understood when my Father died ( whilst in receipt of the SP ) my Mother received an increase to her SP ( already in receipt of the basic ) of around 25%.
Other than child benefit accrual she would not have contributed sufficient NI as basically never worked.
Obviously the 25% above assumed a full SP which may therefore have not been the case and so the percentage might have been higher ?
I suppose its perhaps part of the extra SERPS payment ( assuming he received any of course ) but I always assumed it to be some form of widow's allowance ?
Other than child benefit accrual she would not have contributed sufficient NI as basically never worked.
Obviously the 25% above assumed a full SP which may therefore have not been the case and so the percentage might have been higher ?
I suppose its perhaps part of the extra SERPS payment ( assuming he received any of course ) but I always assumed it to be some form of widow's allowance ?
I believe it's only if you're in receipt of the 'old' state pension (before 2016?) that some of it carries over to the spouse. The 'new' state pension dies with you.
ETA: Already mentioned above.
On the asset rich, cash poor, downsize and use the money. There's no point having a load of money tied up in a property especially if the bills are taking a lot of pension income. My in-laws did this and enjoyed themselves, although the mother in law sill won't turn the heating up despite having the money to pay the bill
I just don't get it.
ETA: Already mentioned above.
On the asset rich, cash poor, downsize and use the money. There's no point having a load of money tied up in a property especially if the bills are taking a lot of pension income. My in-laws did this and enjoyed themselves, although the mother in law sill won't turn the heating up despite having the money to pay the bill
I just don't get it.Edited by Armitage.Shanks on Monday 19th January 23:16
Keep it stiff said:
Husband is in receipt of state pension, commenced in Sept 2025.
Husband expected to die 2026/27.
Husband receives former workplace DB pension which will reduce to 50% payable to wife.
I have searched gov info but can't find a clear answer to this scenario.
A question I haveHusband expected to die 2026/27.
Husband receives former workplace DB pension which will reduce to 50% payable to wife.
I have searched gov info but can't find a clear answer to this scenario.
“When did husband start drawing workplace pension?
Reason - some DB schemes have a guaranteed period where they pay out the 100% level for a few years from commencement of drawing.
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