AM I ENTITLED TO MY PARTNER’S PENSION IF I DIVORCE OR AM WIDOWED?

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IF YOU DIVORCE (OR DISSOLVE YOUR CIVIL PARTNERSHIP)...

Any pensions should be included in your financial settlement. It might be that you’re given a percentage share of your former partner’s pension pot, or the value of the pension could be offset against other assets, or some of the pension paid over to you (like a maintenance payment). If you are cohabiting, you have no automatic right to a former partner’s pension. Your basic State Pension can’t be shared if you divorce, but any amount over this, known as a ‘protected payment’, might be split.

IF YOUR PARTNER DIES…

State Pension: If your husband or civil partner dies, you might be entitled to extra pension payments from their State Pension, depending on their NI contributions and your State Pension ages. For more advice, call the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469.

Personal and workplace pensions: How much and when you can claim depends on the type of pension your partner has. You’ll need to talk to the pension provider or employer to find out how much was in the pension pot and how to claim. If you need help tracing pensions, call the Pension Tracing Service on 0345 600 2537.

‘Unused pensions are passed on at death and not liable to inheritance tax – but make sure you are named on the other person’s pension as a beneficiary,’ says Claire Walsh, head of advice strategy at Schroders Personal Wealth. ‘This is particularly important if you are not married or have children.’