Inherited State Pension Calculator 2026/27
Estimate what State Pension you may be able to inherit from a late husband, wife or civil partner — and check the rules that decide whether you qualify at all.
What You Can Inherit Depends Entirely on the System
State Pension inheritance is one of the most misunderstood areas of the whole system — partly because the April 2016 reform created two entirely different rulebooks. What a widow or widower can claim turns on when the deceased reached State Pension age, not when they died. The new system deliberately ended most inheritance, but transitional protections preserve significant amounts for people whose late spouse was on the old system.
Old system vs new system — what's inheritable
| Component | Old system (SPA before 6 Apr 2016) | New system (on/after 6 Apr 2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic State Pension | Can top up your own to 100% using their NI record | Not inheritable |
| Additional Pension (SERPS/S2P) | Inherit 50%–100% (see table below) | Not applicable |
| Protected payment | N/A | Inherit up to 50% |
| Graduated Retirement Benefit | Inherit 50% | Inherit 50% (if any) |
| Extra from deferral | Inheritable (lump sum or income) | Inheritable (limited) |
The SERPS Inheritance Percentage Table
For the old Additional State Pension, the share you can inherit was cut from 100% to as low as 50% in a reform phased in from 2002. The exact maximum depends on the deceased's date of birth — and applies to deaths on or after 6 October 2002. If they died before that date, you can inherit up to 100%.
| Deceased's date of birth (man) | Deceased's date of birth (woman) | Max inherited |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 1945 or later | 6 Oct 1950 or later | 50% |
| 6 Oct 1943 – 5 Oct 1945 | 6 Oct 1948 – 5 Oct 1950 | 60% |
| 6 Oct 1941 – 5 Oct 1943 | 6 Oct 1946 – 5 Oct 1948 | 70% |
| 6 Oct 1939 – 5 Oct 1941 | 6 Oct 1944 – 5 Oct 1946 | 80% |
| 6 Oct 1937 – 5 Oct 1939 | 6 Oct 1942 – 5 Oct 1944 | 90% |
| 5 Oct 1937 or earlier | 5 Oct 1942 or earlier | 100% |
Two important refinements: any State Second Pension built up between 2002 and 2016 is inheritable only at 50% regardless of the band above, and a spouse who was contracted out or self-employed may have accrued little or no additional pension to inherit in the first place. The calculator above applies your selected percentage to the additional-pension figure you enter; the Pension Service holds the exact split.
Source: GOV.UK / nidirect Additional State Pension inheritance tables; DWP FOI data via Royal London (2024). Last verified May 2026.
When You Cannot Inherit — The Rules That Catch People Out
This is the part most guides gloss over, and it decides whole claims. Even where a valuable additional pension exists, these rules can reduce your inheritance to nothing:
How Inherited Pension Affects Your Benefits
Because this is a benefits site, the interaction that matters most is often missed entirely elsewhere: inherited State Pension counts as income for means-tested benefits. That has two very different consequences depending on where your income sits.
Three Inheritance Scenarios
Scenario 1 — substantial old-system SERPS
Scenario 2 — new system, modest protected payment
Scenario 3 — disqualified by cohabitation
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I inherit my late spouse's State Pension?
It depends on the system. If they reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, you may inherit part of their basic and additional (SERPS/S2P) State Pension. If they were on the new State Pension, inheritance is limited to up to 50% of any protected payment they had. In both cases you must have been married or in a civil partnership — cohabiting partners cannot inherit.
How much SERPS can a widow or widower inherit?
Between 50% and 100% of the deceased's Additional State Pension, depending on their date of birth, for deaths on or after 6 October 2002. Most people widowed today fall in the 50% band. Any State Second Pension built up between 2002 and 2016 is inheritable at 50%. The average inherited SERPS payment was around £3,377 a year in 2023/24.
Does inheriting State Pension affect my Pension Credit?
Yes. Inherited State Pension counts as income for Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits. If you're on Guarantee Credit, extra inherited pension can reduce your Pension Credit by a similar amount, so your total income may not rise much. If it lifts you above the threshold, you could lose passported benefits — so it's worth checking the net position with the Pension Credit Calculator.
Will I lose the inheritance if I remarry?
If you remarry or form a new civil partnership before reaching your own State Pension age, you lose the right to inherit from your late spouse. If you remarry after reaching State Pension age, you keep any inherited amount. The death of a divorced ex-spouse gives no inheritance rights either way.
My partner and I lived together but never married — can I inherit anything?
No. State Pension inheritance is only available to married couples and civil partners. Cohabiting partners cannot inherit any State Pension, regardless of how long you were together. This is one of the most significant gaps in the system, and it's worth seeking advice about private pensions and other provision, which may follow different rules.
What if my spouse died recently and I'm not yet at State Pension age?
Inherited State Pension is only added to your payments once you reach State Pension age. In the meantime, if your spouse died on or after 6 April 2017, you may qualify for Bereavement Support Payment — a separate, tax-free benefit that does not affect other benefits. See the Bereavement Support Payment Calculator for an estimate.
Disclaimer: This tool provides an estimate for informational purposes only and cannot reflect every transitional rule or cap that may apply to your record. For a definitive answer, contact the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469. Free advice is available from Citizens Advice and Age UK.