Entitlement to partners pension rights on death??

simmo5152

Sorry if this has already been covered, I did try to search.

Myself and my wife were married for 45yrs, all that time in full time employment and paying full tax & N.I.   Both of us fully paid up on our pension rights.

My wife passed away 18months ago and I was advised that her UK Pension rights go when she passed away.

It feels a bit of a kick in the teeth having been together all those years and planned our retirement together, 

So I need to try and verify one last time if her pension rights died with her, or is there an element I can claim at retirement??

Any genuine help and advice would be very much welcome.

comeandgo

Do you mean state pension or private pensions?

Linton

Generally the standard SP is not inheritable and is based purely on your own NI record.  However some  extra  parts may be partially.  Did your wife become eligible for SP before April 2016?

Dobbibill

Welcome to the forum.

If they were under state pension age when they passed away you can apply for a bereavement support payment. Looks to be in replacement of widows pension. (Ideally needs to be claimed in the first 3 months but can claim within 21 months)

https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment 

Hope this helps. 

molerat

If your state retirement dates were after April 2016 the only inheritable amount is half of the protected payment, that is half of anything above the new maximum state pension.

Flugelhorn

 suspect if they were married 45 years then she became eligible prior to 2016 (though might be after)

xylophone

Had your wife reached state pension age before she died?

When do (did) you reach SPA?

Did your wife have a private/occupational pension?

Albermarle

It feels a bit of a kick in the teeth having been together all those years and planned our retirement together, 

Your wife dying early is obviously very sad for you. However from a state pension ( and any type of guaranteed income private pension) point of view, then people who die early, help  pay for those who live to a ripe old age . Otherwise the whole very expensive system would become unaffordable for the government/taxpayer.  It is just like taking an insurance policy out, the ones who do not claim help pay for those who claim.

Marcon

simmo5152 said:

Sorry if this has already been covered, I did try to search.

Myself and my wife were married for 45yrs, all that time in full time employment and paying full tax & N.I.   Both of us fully paid up on our pension rights.

My wife passed away 18months ago and I was advised that her UK Pension rights go when she passed away.

It feels a bit of a kick in the teeth having been together all those years and planned our retirement together, 

So I need to try and verify one last time if her pension rights died with her, or is there an element I can claim at retirement??

Any genuine help and advice would be very much welcome.

I wonder who 'advised' you of that? Good clear explanation here which sets out the position: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/benefits/benefits-in-later-life/state-pension-death-benefits

If you are talking about private (non-state) pensions, you need to contact her pension provider to check the position on those.