| 1 in 6 people don’t know who their pension would go to if they passed away | Cohabiting partners are especially at risk of missing out if not formally nominated | Some still have ex-partners listed – regular reviews are essential |
One in six people with a partner admitted in a recent study1 that they ‘do not know’ who would inherit their pension savings if they were to pass away before taking them.
The majority (65%) of respondents have nominated their partner or spouse as their named beneficiary, while one in five say they have selected another family member. A small number say they are leaving their pension pot to a charity (4%) or a friend (3%).
A worrying trend
However, a concerning proportion of respondents did not know who would be their beneficiary. In particular, people living with a partner but neither married nor in a civil partnership were especially likely to be unaware – some 25% of these respondents could not name theirs.
Likewise, younger respondents were least likely to know, with one in ten aged between 16 and 24 saying they did not know. At the other end of the spectrum, those aged 79 or older were also over-represented in not knowing, at one in five (18%).
Choose carefully
Even more worrying was the finding that a further 3% of respondents believed that the person nominated as their beneficiary might still be their ex-partner. Indeed, a separate study2 found that one in 10 divorcees have forgotten to remove their ex-partner as a life insurance beneficiary.
Don’t risk your pension falling into the wrong hands – review your beneficiary regularly to ensure it reflects your current wishes and circumstances.
1Aviva, 2025, 2Legal & General, 2025
The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. The past is not a guide to future performance and past performance may not necessarily be repeated.
