Start with one practical task
You may be dealing with several organisations at a difficult time. A short private list can help: what needs notifying, who is handling it and which questions remain. You can ask an appropriate trusted person or professional for help without sharing provider passwords.
This guide is about organising the pension part of that list. It does not decide who may act for the estate or who receives a payment.
Ask each scheme about possible benefits
GOV.UK explains that payments from a husband, wife or civil partner’s private pension depend on its scheme. Ask the relevant provider about its death-benefit process, what evidence it needs and the rules applicable to the relationship and arrangement. Do not assume a whole pot, annuity or income automatically continues.
Keep State Pension questions distinct
The official partner-death guidance treats State Pension separately and explains that possible extra payments depend on the applicable rules. Use the linked State Pension after a partner dies guide and official Pension Service route for that question, not a private provider’s pot value.
Separate reporting from decisions
MoneyHelper describes identifying schemes and notifying pension or annuity providers. A notification acknowledgement is not necessarily a completed benefit decision. Keep the contact date, case reference and request for further information in private filing.
- Which organisation has been notified and for which record?
- What authority or evidence has the provider asked for?
- Has it acknowledged the report or made a separate decision?
- Which question about your own pension records needs attention later?
Sources: MoneyHelper: Sorting someone’s pensions after death
Review your own records when appropriate
Your own contact and beneficiary records are separate tasks. Use the beneficiary guide and scheme instructions when you are ready; this page does not change a nomination, assess inheritance tax or recommend a financial decision.
All Pensions has no bereavement-claim, estate-access or authorised-representative feature. Keep real death certificates and case identifiers privately, and keep short notes only in the browser organiser.
Sources & review
- GOV.UK: Pensions after the death of a partnerChecked 2026-10-04
- MoneyHelper: Sorting someone’s pensions after deathChecked 2026-10-04
Next scheduled review: 2027-01-04. Provider details can change sooner. Use the official website for the current contact route.
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