When a husband passes away, it can be an incredibly difficult time for the surviving spouse. In addition to grieving, there are many practical matters to deal with, including understanding what will happen to any State Pension entitlement.
The State Pension rules can seem complex, but this guide will walk through the key questions surrounding what happens to a husband’s State Pension when he dies in the UK.
Can a wife inherit any of her deceased husband’s State Pension?
Yes, in many cases a widow can inherit some or all of her deceased husband’s State Pension. The amount she may be eligible for depends on her age and when her husband passed away.
There are two main State Pension benefits that a widow may be able to inherit from her late husband:
- Category B basic State Pension – Derived from the husband’s contributions, available for widows whose husband reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.
- Category BL basic State Pension – Part derived from the husband’s contributions, available for widows whose husband reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016.
In addition, a widow may also inherit any additional State Pension that her husband was receiving, such as through State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) or State Second Pension (S2P).
Does a wife automatically inherit her husband’s State Pension?
A widow does not automatically inherit her deceased husband’s State Pension. She must proactively make a claim for bereavement benefits to receive any State Pension inheritance she may be eligible for.
To make a claim, a widow should contact the Bereavement Service helpline. She will need to provide her National Insurance number and her late husband’s details.
It is recommended to make a claim for bereavement benefits within 3 months of being widowed to receive payments backdated to the date of bereavement. Claims can still be made up to 12 months after being widowed.
What age does a wife need to be to inherit her husband’s State Pension?
The minimum age a widow can inherit her deceased husband’s basic State Pension depends on when he reached State Pension age, as follows:
- For husbands who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, the widow must be State Pension age.
- For husbands who reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, the widow must be State Pension age minus 1 year (but no lower than age 45).
However, there is no minimum age requirement to inherit any additional State Pension, such as SERPS or S2P, which the late husband was already in receipt of. This can be paid to the widow at any age.
How much State Pension can a wife inherit?
How much State Pension a widow can inherit from her deceased husband depends on when he reached State Pension age:
If husband reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016
The widow is entitled to inherit the following:
- 100% of his basic State Pension as a Category B pension.
- 50% of any additional State Pension such as from SERPS or S2P.
If husband reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016
The widow is entitled to inherit the following:
- Part of his basic State Pension as a Category BL pension, equal to the amount he would have received if entitled under the old rules (typically higher than the new State Pension).
- 50% of any additional State Pension such as from SERPS or S2P.
However, if the amount inherited under Category BL is less than the full new State Pension, the widow can make a claim to inherit the difference as a survivor’s pension.
How is a wife’s inherited State Pension calculated?
The way a widow’s inherited State Pension is calculated depends on when her husband reached State Pension age and the type of pension she is eligible to inherit.
Category B basic State Pension (husband reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016)
Category B pension is based on the husband’s basic State Pension rate when he died. His contributions are not relevant to the widow’s inherited amount.
If the husband claimed extra State Pension through deferring, this is included in the widow’s inherited Category B pension. However, increments for deferring do not continue to accrue after the husband’s death.
Category BL basic State Pension (husband reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016)
Category BL pension is calculated as follows:
- Determine the amount the husband would have received under the old State Pension system based on his National Insurance record.
- Pay the widow this amount as an inherited Category BL pension, uprated each year.
As this is based on what the husband would have received under the old rules, the amount is often higher than the full new State Pension. His contributions are not relevant, only his hypothetical entitlement.
Additional State Pension (husband reached State Pension age either before or after 6 April 2016)
Any additional State Pension (such as SERPS or S2P) is calculated as 50% of the additional amount the husband was receiving when he passed away.
This is paid on top of any inherited basic State Pension (Category B or BL).
Does a wife’s inherited State Pension increase each year?
Yes, a widow’s inherited State Pension will increase each year by the growth in average earnings, or by prices as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), whichever is higher.
This ensures her inherited State Pension retains its purchasing power over time.
The uplift is applied in April each year based on the growth figures from the previous September. For example, the increase in April 2023 will reflect earnings/CPI growth between September 2021 and September 2022.
When does a wife’s inherited State Pension stop?
A widow’s right to her deceased husband’s State Pension ends if she remarries or forms a new civil partnership before she reaches State Pension age.
If she remarries or enters a civil partnership after reaching State Pension age, her inherited State Pension will continue. She keeps the inherited State Pension for life.
Can a husband inherit his wife’s State Pension?
Yes, the rules work both ways so a widower may inherit some or all of his deceased wife’s State Pension if he is eligible.
The same principles apply in terms of what he can inherit and how his inherited pension is calculated based on when his late wife reached State Pension age.
However, for husbands whose wife reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, the minimum age to inherit her State Pension is State Pension age rather than State Pension age minus 1 year.
What other benefits can a widow inherit besides State Pension?
When claiming for bereavement benefits following her husband’s death, a widow may be eligible for more than just inheriting his State Pension. Other benefits she may qualify for include:
- Bereavement Support Payment – A tax-free lump sum payment of up to £3,500 plus 18 monthly installments of up to £350.
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance – Weekly payment if you have dependent children.
- Bereavement Allowance – Weekly payment if aged 45+ and no dependent children.
Additionally, any means-tested benefits that were paid to the couple jointly, such as Pension Credit or Housing Benefit, will continue for the widow but paid at the rate for a single person rather than a couple.
Where can I find out more about inherited State Pensions?
You can find more details about inheriting State Pension and claiming bereavement benefits on the government website here:
- Inheriting an additional State Pension
- Inheriting a basic State Pension
- Claiming bereavement benefits
You can also contact the Bereavement Service helpline for guidance:
Telephone: 0800 731 0469
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
We hope this guide has helped explain what happens to a husband’s State Pension when he passes away. While it can be a difficult subject, understanding the rules around State Pension inheritance is important for widows so they receive the benefits they are entitled to.
