Providing for Dependents

If you reach State Pension Age, see State Pension Age, and are still providing for your spouse or civil partner, perhaps because they are younger than you and not yet entitled to claim a State Pension, you may be able to get extra money to help pay for your dependent. You may be entitled to a dependent increase equal to the Wife's Pension, which is currently set at £52.30 a week. However, if your dependent partner is earning money or currently entitled to receive state benefits of the same or greater value than the Wife's Pension, you will not be entitled to the dependent increase. If your dependent partner is currently receiving Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance, you should still be entitled to a dependent increase. For more information on dependent increases, contact the Pension Service on 0845 606 0265. For details see The Basic State Pension.

If you are concerned about your dependents coping after your death, see State Pension in event of a death, for information on benefits and State Pension inheritance. Your children cannot inherit any of your State Pension, nor your State Second Pension. It may be possible for your children to inherit some of your non-state pension, depending on the terms and conditions of your pension scheme. For more information on this topic see Non-State Pensions and Family. If you die and are survived by your children, they may be entitled to receive certain state benefits, such as Income Support, if they find themselves in a difficult financial situation. For more information on this topic see State Benefits. If you leave your children a lot of money, they may be liable to pay Inheritance Tax: for more information on this topic see Inheritance Tax.