Pensions

You may be able to get extra state pension payments from your husband, wife, or civil partner’s state pension or NI contributions. You need to be over state pension age to claim extra payments, and what you get and how you claim will depend on whether you reached state pension age before or after 6 April 2016. Contact the pension service to find out what you can claim. Telephone: 0800 731 7898, Textphone: 0800 731 7339

NGT text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 7898​​

You may get a private pension from your husband, wife, or civil partner’s workplace, personal or stakeholder pension – it will depend on the pension scheme. Contact the pension scheme to find out. Note you will have to pay tax on those payments if the pension provider does not pay it for you.

You may be able to get a war widow’s or widower’s pension if your husband, wife, or civil partner died because of their service in the Armed Forces or because of a war.

For more information about entitlements and pensions (GOV.UK) upon a spouse or partner’s death.

Benefits can be complicated. There may be other payments you may be able to claim, for example, help with paying your rent or council tax. Always seek advice if you are unsure, or struggling to pay your bills.

See Your benefits, tax and pension after the death of a partner (GOV.UK).