A fresh campaign is gathering momentum to challenge the UK's longstanding rules on who can inherit State Pension entitlements after a person's death. An online petition, launched on the official Petitions Parliament website, is calling for a significant overhaul of the current system, which restricts inheritance solely to spouses and civil partners.
The Push for a More Flexible Inheritance System
Founder Adrienne Allen-Laing is spearheading the campaign, which argues that the existing framework fails to reflect modern family structures and dependencies. The petition, titled 'Allow State Pension to be passed to children, long-term partners, and dependents', proposes a fundamental change: allowing individuals to nominate a beneficiary of their choice.
This could include adult children, long-term cohabiting partners, or carers, who are currently excluded regardless of financial dependence. The petition also suggests the alternative of providing a lump sum payment to nominated dependents, offering flexibility in how the pension value is passed on.
"We believe in having a system that recognises real-world relationships and dependency," the petition states. It contends that reform could help shield vulnerable loved ones from financial hardship following a bereavement, particularly in cases where individuals support adult children with disabilities or are cared for by someone other than a spouse.
Current Rules and What Happens Now
Under the present regulations, the ability to inherit any element of a State Pension is tightly bound to marital or civil partnership status. For those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 (the Basic State Pension system), a surviving spouse or civil partner may be able to boost their own pension using the deceased's National Insurance record.
For the New State Pension (for those reaching pension age on or after 6 April 2016), a person may inherit an extra payment on top of their own pension if they are widowed. However, this entitlement is lost if they remarry or form a new civil partnership before reaching their own State Pension age.
There are limited exceptions. For instance, the estate of a single or divorced person may claim up to three months of the Basic State Pension if the deceased had not claimed it before passing away. Furthermore, if a person deferred claiming their State Pension, a surviving partner might inherit extra pension or a lump sum.
Next Steps for the Campaign
The petition requires 10,000 signatures to trigger an official response from the UK Government. As reported by the Daily Record, reaching this threshold would force policymakers to address the calls for change directly.
The campaign highlights a growing debate about the adequacy of the welfare state in recognising diverse living arrangements. With weekly payments for the full New State Pension currently at £230.25 (£11,973 annually) for the 2025/26 tax year, the financial implications of inheritance are significant for many households.
Individuals are advised to contact the Pension Service helpline at 0800 731 0469 immediately following a death to stop payments and ascertain any entitlements. The government's online tool, 'Your partner's National Insurance record and your State Pension', can also help survivors understand what they might inherit.
