The loss of a spouse brings enough emotional weight without the added stress of finances. Yet many widows and widowers in the UK don’t realise they may be entitled to a significant boost to their own State Pension by using their late partner’s National Insurance record. You could inherit up to 50% of the Additional State Pension your spouse earned, and in some cases increase your basic pension to the full rate. This guide walks you through exactly what you can claim, the conditions, and the practical steps to apply.
Basic State Pension full rate (2025/26): £184.90 per week ·
New State Pension full rate (2025/26): £221.20 per week ·
Maximum Additional State Pension inheritable: 50% ·
Time limit to claim inheritance after death: 12 months
Quick snapshot
- You can use your spouse’s qualifying years to increase your basic State Pension if you don’t already get the full amount (GOV.UK official guidance).
- You can inherit up to 50% of your spouse’s Additional State Pension if you were married at death (LCP analysis).
- Inherited State Pension is taxable income (GOV.UK guidance). (GOV.UK official guidance)
- Whether remarrying before you claim inheritance can cancel your entitlement (Fidelity Adviser Solutions warning).
- How being contracted out before 2016 affects the exact amount you can inherit from Additional State Pension (Unbiased explanation).
- You must claim the inheritance within 12 months of the death – it’s not automatic (GOV.UK deadline).
- The earlier you apply, the sooner the extra payment can start.
- Notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of the death.
- Complete the State Pension inheritance boost form (available on GOV.UK).
- Submit within 12 months to secure your entitlement.
Four key figures, one pattern: inheritance rules depend heavily on when your spouse reached State Pension age and whether you were married before April 2016. The table below shows the main rates and limits you need to know.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Basic State Pension weekly rate | £184.90 (2025/26) |
| New State Pension weekly rate | £221.20 (2025/26) |
| Maximum inheritance of Additional State Pension | 50% |
| Time limit to claim inherited pension | 12 months from death |
Do I inherit my husband’s State Pension when he dies?
Inheriting the basic State Pension
If you were married or in a civil partnership when your spouse died and you have not yet reached State Pension age, you may be able to use their qualifying years to increase your own basic State Pension. GOV.UK official guidance states that you can only get this increase if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and your spouse also reached that age before that date and qualified for the basic State Pension. If you have your own full basic pension, you cannot increase it further through inheritance.
Inheriting the Additional State Pension
The Additional State Pension (formerly SERPS or State Second Pension) is more flexible. According to LCP analysis, if your spouse built up entitlement before 2002, you can inherit at least 50% – and possibly up to 100% depending on their date of birth. GOV.UK adds that you must have been married before 6 April 2016 and your spouse must have reached State Pension age before that date (or died before that date but would have reached it on or after).
Inheriting the new State Pension
If your spouse reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 and you were married before that date, you may inherit part of their “protected payment”. GOV.UK says you can inherit up to half of that protected payment. However, Unbiased (financial advisory service) notes that if the deceased was eligible for the new State Pension, it is unlikely the survivor can inherit it unless there is a protected payment involved.
The most generous inheritance rules only apply to marriages formed before April 2016. If you married later, you lose access to the Additional State Pension and protected payment inheritance entirely.
What is a wife entitled to when her husband dies in the UK?
Bereavement benefits overview
A widowed spouse may be entitled to a one-off Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) worth up to £3,500 for higher-rate contributors, according to GOV.UK bereavement guidance. This is separate from the State Pension. You may also be able to inherit part of your husband’s State Pension, but only if you were over State Pension age at the time of his death or you reach that age later.
Inherited State Pension specifics
GOV.UK states the additional amount you receive is based on your spouse’s National Insurance contributions. If you are under State Pension age, you cannot inherit the basic State Pension immediately, but you may still inherit Additional State Pension when you reach pension age. MoneyHelper (government-backed pension advice) warns that if you remarry before reaching State Pension age, you lose the right to inherit any State Pension from your former spouse.
Other financial entitlements
Aside from the State Pension, a surviving spouse may inherit part of a private or workplace pension. The rules vary by scheme. The State Pension inheritance boost is separate and does not affect other pension assets.
The implication: the widow’s entitlement isn’t a single sum – it’s a set of conditional options that depend on the date of marriage, date of death, and your age. Timing is everything.
What is the 10 year rule for pension?
Minimum qualifying years for new State Pension
To receive any new State Pension, you need at least 10 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. GOV.UK new State Pension rules explain that fewer than 10 years means no new State Pension is payable. However, that does not block you from inheriting a basic State Pension from a spouse – that inheritance is subject to separate rules.
How the 10-year rule affects inheritance
If your spouse had fewer than 10 qualifying years, they would not have qualified for a new State Pension themselves. But you may still inherit part of their Additional State Pension or basic State Pension if they were in the old system. The 10-year rule only applies to the individual’s own pension, not to what a survivor can inherit. Charles Stanley (wealth management firm) notes that if your spouse reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, the inheritance rules are more lenient, and the 10-year rule does not block your claim on their contributions.
Transitional arrangements
Those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 operate under the old system, which required 30 qualifying years for a full basic pension. The 10-year rule only applies to the new system. LCP analysis highlights that widows of men who contracted out of SERPS may have lower inheritance amounts, but the 10-year rule itself is not a barrier to inheriting what their spouse earned.
A spouse with only 5 years of NI contributions can still leave you a significant inheritance under the old system – the 10-year rule only blocks your own pension if you haven’t contributed enough yourself.
How much money can you have in the bank and still get a full pension?
Savings and the basic State Pension
The basic State Pension and new State Pension are not means-tested. GOV.UK state pension eligibility confirms that your savings, investments, or property do not reduce the amount you receive. So you can have any amount in the bank and still get the full State Pension you’ve earned.
Pension Credit means test
Pension Credit, which tops up your income, is means-tested. GOV.UK Pension Credit guidance says savings over £10,000 reduce entitlement, and savings over a certain threshold can eliminate it entirely. But this does not affect your core State Pension.
Impact on inheriting State Pension
Inherited State Pension is not affected by your savings. Whether you have £500 or £500,000 in the bank, you can still claim the inheritance from your spouse. MoneyHelper confirms that the inheritance is based on your spouse’s NI record, not your financial circumstances.
The trade-off: your savings won’t cost you your pension, but they may reduce Pension Credit top-ups. The inheritance boost itself is safe.
What is Additional State Pension?
SERPS, State Second Pension, and Additional Pension
The Additional State Pension was an extra earnings-related pension built on top of the basic State Pension between 1978 and 2016. It includes the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS, 1978-2002) and the State Second Pension (2002-2016). GOV.UK historical guidance explains that it was designed to provide extra retirement income for employees who were not contracted out.
Inheriting Additional State Pension
LCP (pensions consultancy) calculates that if your spouse built up entitlements before 2002, you can inherit at least 50% – and depending on their date of birth the percentage could rise to 100%. The condition: you must have been married before 6 April 2016 and your spouse must have reached State Pension age before that date (or died before it). GOV.UK adds that you can inherit even if you have your own full basic or new State Pension.
Contracting out and its effect
If your spouse was contracted out of SERPS (usually because they were in a workplace pension that replaced it), the Additional State Pension they earned will be lower. Unbiased (financial guidance service) notes that the amount you can inherit is correspondingly reduced. This is one of the trickiest areas, as many people don’t know their spouse’s contracting-out history until they check their State Pension statement.
If your spouse was contracted out for many years, the inheritable Additional State Pension may be far smaller than you expect – always check their NI record before assuming the full 50% applies.
The pattern: Additional State Pension inheritance is the most valuable route to a boost, but it’s tightly date-locked and can be eroded by contracting out. Every widow or widower should obtain their spouse’s NI statement to see exactly what is available.
How to claim your State Pension inheritance boost
Use the following step-by-step guide to ensure you don’t miss out on the extra payments you’re entitled to.
- Notify the DWP of the death. Call the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469 or use the Tell Us Once service. You’ll need the deceased’s National Insurance number and date of death.
- Get the right forms. The main form for inheriting Additional State Pension is the “State Pension inheritance boost form” (available from GOV.UK official form page). For basic State Pension increases, you may need a separate BR1 form.
- Gather supporting documents. Marriage or civil partnership certificate, your own and your spouse’s NI numbers, and proof of death (death certificate).
- Submit within 12 months. GOV.UK warns that late claims may be refused, so do not delay.
- Await the decision. The DWP will calculate the extra amount and add it to your pension. You’ll receive a letter detailing the increase.
- Check your tax code. Inherited State Pension is taxable, so your tax code may change. HMRC tax guidance explains that HMRC will adjust your tax code automatically.
“You may be able to increase your basic State Pension through your spouse or civil partner.”
UK Government – official guidance
“The steps to claim inherited State Pension are straightforward, but you must act within the time limit.”
The stakes: failing to claim within a year could cost you thousands in lost pension income over your retirement. For a typical survivor inheriting an extra £50 per week, that’s over £2,600 a year for life.
Survivors can check their eligibility for a state pension inheritance boost to see if they qualify for extra payments.
Frequently asked questions
Can I inherit my husband’s State Pension if I remarry?
If you remarry before reaching State Pension age, you lose the right to inherit any State Pension from your former spouse. If you remarry after reaching State Pension age, the inheritance is already in payment and continues unaffected.
Do I have to notify the DWP about the death to claim inheritance?
Yes. You must notify the Pension Service of the death, usually through the Tell Us Once service or by calling the Pension Service. The DWP will then send you the relevant claim forms.
How long does it take to receive inherited State Pension payments?
Once you submit a complete claim with all supporting documents, the DWP typically processes it within 6 to 8 weeks. Payments are backdated to the date of death if claimed within the 12-month window.
Can I get a lump sum instead of weekly payments?
No. Inherited State Pension is paid as a weekly addition to your regular State Pension. There is no option for a lump sum. Only deferred pension can sometimes be paid as a lump sum under specific rules.
Does the inherited State Pension affect my tax code?
Yes. Inherited State Pension is treated as taxable income. HMRC will adjust your tax code to ensure the correct tax is deducted from your total pension income.
If I have my own State Pension, can I still inherit part of my spouse’s?
Yes. You can inherit Additional State Pension and protected payments even if you already receive a full basic or new State Pension. The inheritance adds to your existing pension.
What happens if my spouse died before reaching State Pension age?
If your spouse died before State Pension age, you may still be able to inherit Additional State Pension, provided you were married before 6 April 2016 and they had reached that age before that date (or would have reached it on or after). For basic State Pension, the rules are stricter – the deceased must have reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.
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Helen Carter covers the economy, business and consumer affairs for Insight Britain.