Inheriting basic state pension - SERPS?

badmemory

A widower friend of mine has just asked me a question & I have no idea of the answer!

His wife died 20 years ago when she was 59, he is now 80. So he is a basic state pensioner & she would have been at aged 60.

Someone has told him he can inherit part of her state pension. Does anyone know if this is true?

Thank you.

DRS1

I have no idea but there is a bit here about people born before 6 April 1950 which suggests men wouldn't inherit anything from their wife.

The basic State Pension: Increasing or inheriting State Pension from your spouse or civil partner - GOV.UK

molerat

In addition to above this is a good read

Start at page 18 https://www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/factsheets/fs19_state_pension_fcs.pdf

badmemory

I'm now trying to figure out if you can't get the increase to just the basic state pension if you were male born before 1950 or no additional state pension either.

Thank you very much for your help.

DRS1

Not entirely sure about dates but there is a bit in here about inheriting SERPS and the like

Additional State Pension: Inheriting Additional State Pension - GOV.UK

"If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2010
You cannot inherit your spouse or civil partner’s Additional State Pension if they died before they reached their State Pension age and after you reached yours.

This does not apply if you’re a woman who was married to:

a man
a woman who legally changed their gender from male to female during your marriage"

Maybe he is saved by the "after you reached yours" language?

badmemory

I think he will just have to write to them & ask. I have read the data sheets & the language is a bit "maybe / maybe not

Ms_Chocaholic

Is he just on basic SP? Does he qualify for Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance etc etc, might be worth him doing a complete review of his entitlements.

badmemory

No he doesn't qualify for pension credit or attendance allowance. He has only recently stopped working a couple of days a week & his sister thought a little extra might be available via his late wife as things will be a little tighter now.

jem16

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82021813#Comment_82021813

It just refers to the increase in the Basic State Pension. The Additional state pension and Graduated Retirement benefit is still inheritable.

My Dad was born late 1920s and he inherited about 45 pence of my Mum’s additional pension. Like most women of her era she’d mostly paid the married woman’s small stamp so had a Category B pension based on Dad’s contributions. She did have a very small amount of additional pension though and Dad inherited it.