PETITIONClosedPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Allow State Pension to be passed to children, long-term partners, and dependents
We ask the Government to change State Pension inheritance rules so that individuals can nominate a beneficiary such as their child, long-term cohabiting partner, or carer – or offer them a lump sum – so it is not just a spouse or civil partner inheriting from the pension as at present.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
961
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 961/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 961/100,000
Background
State Pension benefits can only be inherited by a spouse/civil partner. Unmarried partners, adult children, or other dependents are excluded, even if financially dependent. Many may support adult children with disabilities, or are cared for by someone other than a spouse or civil partner.
We believe in having a system that recognises real-world relationships and dependency; allowing people to nominate a beneficiary, or offer a lump sum to dependents, could help protect vulnerable loved ones from financial hardship after bereavement.