How much do the widowed receive?

The amount of pension income a surviving spouse is entitled to will depend on the kind of pension their partner had.

With modern “defined contribution” pensions, the age at which they died is important. If they died before age 75 and were in flexible drawdown, the living spouse will have access to their pot and any money paid within two years of the death will be tax-free. This does not apply if they were over 75.

The money in the pension can also continue to grow if it remains invested. If they were receiving an annuity, this would stop unless it was “joint life”, in which case it would continue to be paid, usually at a reduced rate.