You can nominate an unmarried partner as the beneficiary of your pension — but they are not automatically entitled to anything. Unlike a will, your pension does not pass through your estate. Trustees or scheme administrators have discretion, and an up-to-date expression of wishes (nomination form) is the most important thing you can do to protect your partner.
How Pension Death Benefits Work
Pension death benefits are not governed by your will. They are held in a legal trust, which means the trustees control who receives the money — not your estate. This gives pensions a significant advantage (they sit outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes) but also means you must take deliberate action.
| Pension type | Who gets death benefits | How paid |
|---|---|---|
| DC workplace pension | Nominees per expression of wishes (trustee discretion) | Lump sum or inherited drawdown |
| SIPP | Nominees you name with the provider | Lump sum or inherited drawdown |
| DB (final salary) scheme | Dependant as defined in scheme rules | Regular income (dependant’s pension) |
| State Pension | Cannot be inherited in same way — see deferral rules | N/A |
Expression of Wishes — The Most Important Form You Can Fill In
An expression of wishes (also called a nomination of beneficiaries form) tells the trustees or pension provider who you want to receive your pension on death. For unmarried partners, this is critical — without it, they may receive nothing.
How to submit one:
- Contact your pension provider or employer’s pension scheme
- Request a nomination or expression of wishes form
- Name your partner and any other beneficiaries with the percentage you want each to receive
- Return the form and keep a copy
- Update it whenever your circumstances change (new relationship, new children, death of a nominee)
Trustees are not legally bound by your nomination but give it very strong weight. Outdated forms (e.g. naming an ex-partner) can override your actual wishes — keep yours current.
Defined Benefit Pensions and Unmarried Partners
DB schemes are more restrictive. They pay a “dependant’s pension” on your death — typically 50–67% of your scheme pension — to an eligible dependant. The definition of “dependant” varies by scheme:
- Most modern DB schemes include cohabiting partners who were financially dependent on you or living with you at the time of death
- Some older schemes only cover spouses and civil partners
- Some require a minimum cohabitation period (e.g. two years)
Check your scheme rules and ask the trustees directly whether your unmarried partner qualifies as a dependant. Do not assume.
DC Pensions: Lump Sum vs Inherited Drawdown
If you die and leave a DC pension to a nominated partner, they typically have two options:
- Lump sum: The full pot is paid as a cash sum. If you die before age 75, this is tax-free. If you die at 75 or older, it is taxed as the recipient’s income.
- Inherited drawdown: Your partner keeps the pot invested and draws from it flexibly. The inherited pension remains separate from their own pension (does not affect their annual allowance). Income drawn is taxed as their income.
Worked Example
James, aged 58, has a SIPP worth £200,000. He has nominated his partner Claire on his expression of wishes. James dies suddenly. Claire (aged 55) has two options:
| Option | Amount received | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Take lump sum | £200,000 | Tax-free (James died before 75) |
| Take inherited drawdown | £200,000 stays invested | Tax on income drawn |
Claire chooses inherited drawdown — the pot continues growing, and she draws £10,000/year in retirement, taxed as her income.
IHT Changes From April 2027
Currently, pension pots sit outside your estate for inheritance tax. This is a major financial planning advantage — your pension can pass to your partner without IHT, even if your estate is above the IHT threshold.
From April 2027, unspent pension pots are expected to be brought into estates for IHT purposes. An unmarried partner does not benefit from the spousal exemption (which allows unlimited IHT-free transfers between spouses and civil partners), so the IHT exposure for cohabiting couples is likely to increase significantly.
Review your nominations and consider whether a civil partnership or marriage makes financial sense for your situation.
Internal Links
- What happens to your pension when you die?
- Expression of wishes — pension beneficiary guide
- Pension planning hub