A widow recently discovered she did not qualify for an inheritance from her late husband’s state pension due to his age at the time of his death. This raised awareness about the complexities of state pension inheritance. Individuals who lose their spouse before they turn 66 are being urged to verify they are not missing out on state pension benefits they might be entitled to inherit.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) informed a widow she could only receive a state pension based on her own contributions, not her late husband’s, due to his age at the time of death. However, this information may not be accurate. Britons can potentially inherit an additional payment on top of their new state pension if their spouse passes away before claiming their own pension.
After her husband’s death, a woman contacted the local Job Centre and pension service to inquire about her pension contributions and the qualifying years needed to receive the full amount of state pension upon retirement. Steve Webb, a pensions expert and partner at Lane, Clark & Peacock (LCP), explained that the DWP has been disseminating incorrect information. Widows and widowers who were told they could not inherit a portion of their deceased spouse’s pension may be missing out on additional state pension savings.
The widow shared her experience: “I requested a quote from the DWP and was informed by the Job Centre that I would not receive any pension from my husband’s contributions. I was then advised by a widows’ pension adviser that since my husband had not claimed his pension before passing away, I could not claim any of his contributions.
Widow disputes pension inheritance rules
I believe I should receive more based on his contributions.”
Webb clarified the regulations surrounding inheriting a partner’s state pension, encouraging more people to check their eligibility. Britons may inherit a state pension from their late spouse if National Insurance contributions were made. This inheritance can be claimed as soon as the surviving spouse reaches state pension age, without waiting for the late spouse’s pension age.
Under the new state pension system, introduced post-2016, the rules for inheritance are stricter compared to the previous system. Widows can also inherit state pension if they don’t qualify for a full pension based on their own contributions. However, remarriage or entering a new civil partnership before reaching state pension age disqualifies individuals from inheriting any part of their late spouse’s pension.
Eligibility for additional payments depends on National Insurance Contributions and the date the deceased spouse reached state pension age. If a spouse or civil partner dies and the surviving partner has not reached state pension age, they may still qualify for Bereavement benefits. Britons can inherit additional state pension if they married or had a civil partnership before April 6, 2016, under certain conditions.
A DWP spokesperson stated: “We aim to ensure pensioners receive all the support they are entitled to and provide tools to help them understand their state pension inheritance rights. Sometimes, delays occur when not all the necessary information is provided. We initially base awards on the customer’s own National Insurance record and revise them upon receiving the required documentation.”
For more information and to determine eligibility, individuals are encouraged to seek free advice from the Pension Service.
