The government has been urged to provide a “lump sum” to state pensioners through a rule change. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing pressure from a petition that is gathering momentum on the Parliamentary website.

The petition reads: “Allow State Pension to be passed to children, long-term partners, and dependents. We ask the Government to change State Pension inheritance rules so that individuals can nominate a beneficiary such as their child, long-term cohabiting partner, or carer – or offer them a lump sum – so it is not just a spouse or civil partner inheriting from the pension as at present.

“State Pension benefits can only be inherited by a spouse/civil partner. Unmarried partners, adult children, or other dependents are excluded, even if financially dependent. Many may support adult children with disabilities, or are cared for by someone other than a spouse or civil partner.

“We believe in having a system that recognises real-world relationships and dependency; allowing people to nominate a beneficiary, or offer a lump sum to dependents, could help protect vulnerable loved ones from financial hardship after bereavement.” For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here

Should the petition reach 10,000 signatures, the government will respond, and at 100,000 signatures it will be considered for parliamentary debate, reports Birmingham Live.

The petition was launched by Adrienne Allen-Laing with a deadline of February 19, 2026. All petitions have a six-month duration.

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Under the current rules of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), if you’re widowed, you might be eligible to inherit an additional payment on top of your new State Pension. The state pension is available for men and women aged 66 and over, meaning those born before 1959.

However, if you remarry or enter into a new civil partnership before reaching State Pension age, you will not be able to inherit anything.

You may be entitled to inherit part of your deceased partner’s Additional State Pension if your marriage or civil partnership with them began before 6 April 2016 and one of the following conditions applies: your partner reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and they passed away before this date but would have reached State Pension age on or after it.

This inheritance will be paid along with your State Pension.