Aviva is one of the UK’s largest pension providers. Millions of workers have been auto-enrolled into Aviva workplace pension schemes through their employers, and many more hold personal pensions or SIPPs directly with Aviva. If you are dealing with an estate, there is a real chance the deceased held an Aviva pension you did not know existed — especially if they were enrolled through a previous employer and never actively engaged with the scheme.
This guide focuses specifically on Aviva pension products: how to notify Aviva, what happens to the pension pot, how expression of wishes nominations work, what the April 2027 inheritance tax change means, and the key things that catch people out. It does not cover Aviva life insurance, critical illness, income protection, or investment accounts — for those, see our Aviva bereavement guide, which covers the full product range and all contact routes.
Quick reference:
- Pensions and retirement bereavement line: 0800 015 1142, Monday–Friday 8am–6pm (free from UK landlines and mobiles)
- Online notification: aviva.co.uk/help-and-support/contact-us/notify-us-of-a-bereavement
- Pension death benefits: paid at Aviva’s discretion, guided by any expression of wishes form on file
Source: Aviva bereavement contact page, verified May 2026.
Aviva’s pension products
Aviva offers several different pension types. The claim process differs depending on which one the deceased held, so it is worth identifying the product before you call.
Group Personal Pension (GPP) / Group Stakeholder Pension: These are workplace pensions where the employer chose Aviva as the scheme provider. Contributions are made by both employer and employee into individual pension plans held in the member’s name. Aviva acts as scheme administrator and exercises discretion over death benefit payments. Many people were enrolled automatically and may never have made active investment decisions.
Workplace Retirement Account: A newer-style workplace pension product Aviva offers to employers for auto-enrolment. Members nominate beneficiaries through their scheme. Aviva, as scheme administrator, exercises discretion over who receives the death benefit, guided by the nomination on file.
Aviva Personal Pension / SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension): These are pensions individuals hold directly with Aviva, independent of any employer. A SIPP gives more investment flexibility than a standard personal pension. The death benefit rules are the same: Aviva exercises discretion, guided by the expression of wishes form the member completed.
Aviva Annuity: An annuity is not a pension pot — it is a guaranteed income product purchased with pension savings at retirement. Once converted to an annuity, there is no remaining pot to inherit. What happens when the annuitant dies depends entirely on how the annuity was set up at the time of purchase. See the annuity section below.
If you are unsure which product the deceased held, Aviva can search their records by name, date of birth, and address when you call.
How to notify Aviva
Call 0800 015 1142 to reach Aviva’s UK-based bereavement team. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Calls are free from UK landlines and mobiles. If calling from abroad, use +44 1603 603 277.
You can also notify Aviva online at aviva.co.uk/help-and-support/contact-us/notify-us-of-a-bereavement. The online form allows you to start the process without calling, and covers pension products alongside other Aviva products.
Aviva will confirm that they check the online register of deaths in most cases and will not usually require you to send a physical death certificate unless the death occurred outside the UK or is the subject of an ongoing coroner’s inquest. However, they may ask for a scan or photograph of the death certificate as part of the process.
Before getting in touch, gather what you can. You do not need all of this to make the first call — Aviva will guide you through:
| Information | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Deceased’s full name, date of birth, address | Standard identification for all claims |
| Date of death | Starts the formal claim process and the two-year clock |
| National Insurance number | Needed to locate pension records |
| Pension plan or policy reference number | From annual statements; Aviva can search by name if unavailable |
| Your name, relationship, and contact details | Aviva will correspond with you throughout |
| Expression of wishes or nomination form | Guides Aviva on who should receive the death benefit |
One notification may not automatically cover all of Aviva’s pension products. If the deceased held, for example, both a workplace pension from a previous employer and a personal SIPP, you may need to deal with each separately. Check with Aviva when you call.
Source: Aviva bereavement page, verified May 2026.
What documents you will need
| Document | Required / optional | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate (original or certified copy) | Required for all claims | Aviva checks the online death register in most cases; a scan or photograph may be needed if the death occurred abroad or during an inquest |
| Pension plan or policy reference number | Helpful but not essential | On annual pension statements or payslips; Aviva can search by name and NI number if unavailable |
| National Insurance number | Required for pension claims | On P60s, payslips, or any HMRC correspondence |
| Expression of wishes or nomination form | Not legally required, but important | If the deceased completed one, locate it and tell Aviva — it significantly speeds up the process |
| Your identity documents and proof of relationship | Required | Aviva will confirm exactly what they need when you make contact |
| Marriage or civil partnership certificate | If claiming as spouse or civil partner | Needed if applying as a dependent beneficiary or for a joint-life annuity continuation |
| Grant of probate or letters of administration | Only if pension is directed to the estate | Most Aviva pension death benefits bypass the estate entirely — probate is usually not required |
Order several certified copies of the death certificate when you register the death. Each institution needs its own copy, and you will likely be dealing with multiple organisations at once. Four to six copies is a reasonable starting point for most estates.
Source: gov.uk — register a death.
Expression of wishes nominations
For defined contribution pensions — workplace pensions, personal pensions, and SIPPs — the single most important document is the expression of wishes form, sometimes called a nomination form or beneficiary nomination.
This form tells Aviva who the deceased wanted to receive the pension death benefit. It is not legally binding. Aviva, as scheme administrator, retains discretionary power to decide who receives the death benefit. In practice, Aviva almost always follows the nomination where there is a named beneficiary and no competing claims or changed circumstances. The discretionary structure is precisely what keeps pension death benefits outside the deceased’s estate — and, for deaths before 6 April 2027, outside inheritance tax.
Aviva offers separate expression of wishes forms for different product types:
- Pension Portfolio / SIPP: the Pension Portfolio Death Benefit Expression of Wishes form (form reference LF40045), completed through an Aviva adviser or directly
- Workplace and stakeholder pensions: a separate nomination form for the employer-based scheme; some employers hold these in their HR records
- Group Personal Pension: Aviva holds the nomination on file as scheme administrator
If no nomination form was completed, Aviva will review the circumstances — the deceased’s family situation, any dependants, any correspondence or will that indicates intent — and decide on the distribution. This takes longer and introduces uncertainty. It is worth checking with any financial adviser the deceased used, with the employer’s HR team, or among personal papers before assuming no nomination exists.
Why the expression of wishes remains relevant after April 2027: The Finance Act 2026 (Royal Assent 18 March 2026) confirmed that most unused pension funds will be included in estates for inheritance tax from 6 April 2027. This changes the IHT position but does not change how pension death benefits are distributed — Aviva’s trustees still decide who receives the money, guided by the nomination form. Keeping the nomination up to date — and naming the right beneficiaries for the overall tax position of the estate — remains important even after the IHT rule changes.
Source: gov.uk — inheritance tax on unused pension funds and death benefits.
What happens to the pension pot
Defined contribution pensions (workplace and personal)
When someone with a defined contribution Aviva pension dies, the remaining pot passes to the beneficiaries Aviva selects, guided by the expression of wishes nomination. Beneficiaries can typically choose how to receive the money:
Lump sum: A single payment made directly to the nominated beneficiary. The most straightforward option and the most common choice for families who need the money now.
Drawdown: The beneficiary inherits the pension as a drawdown fund and can draw on it over time, keeping the remaining balance invested. This option is available to direct beneficiaries — typically a spouse, civil partner, or financially dependent child — and preserves the pension’s tax-advantaged status for longer.
Annuity: The beneficiary uses the pension pot to purchase their own annuity, creating a guaranteed income stream for the rest of their life.
This money does not go through probate. Because Aviva exercises discretionary control over who receives pension death benefits, the pot sits outside the estate for probate purposes. Aviva pays the beneficiary directly, without waiting for — or requiring — a grant of probate. This is one of the key practical advantages of pension inheritance compared with most other estate assets. For more on how pension probate rules work, see do I need probate?
Tax treatment
The age of the deceased at death determines the tax treatment:
Died before age 75: Beneficiaries can generally receive the pension pot tax-free — as a lump sum or as drawdown income. This applies up to the lump sum and death benefit allowance (currently £1,073,100 under HMRC rules). Any amount above this allowance is subject to income tax at the beneficiary’s marginal rate. There is also a critical timing rule: if Aviva is not notified within two years of the date of death, any lump sum payment becomes subject to income tax regardless of the deceased’s age. The two-year clock runs from when Aviva is notified — not from the date of death itself. Do not delay.
Died at age 75 or over: All pension death benefits are taxed as income at the beneficiary’s marginal rate — whether taken as a lump sum or as drawdown income. There is no tax-free treatment for deaths at or after age 75.
Source: gov.uk — tax on a private pension you inherit, verified May 2026.
The April 2027 pension IHT change
Until 5 April 2027, most pension pots sit outside the estate for inheritance tax purposes. This has made pensions one of the most tax-efficient ways to pass on wealth — especially for larger estates. Aviva pension death benefits paid to beneficiaries under the current rules are generally not subject to inheritance tax.
From 6 April 2027, the Finance Act 2026 brings unused pension funds and most defined contribution death benefits into scope for inheritance tax. The practical effect: estates that include a pension pot held at death may pay more inheritance tax than estates dealt with before that date. The government estimated this change would affect around 49,000 estates per year, generating significant additional tax revenue.
For deaths before 6 April 2027 — including anyone dying now: the current rules apply. The pension pot sits outside the estate for IHT, and Aviva pays death benefits to nominated beneficiaries without IHT applying to the pension itself. Income tax treatment based on age at death still applies throughout (tax-free under 75, taxed at 75 or over).
For deaths on or after 6 April 2027: the pension’s value will be included in the estate’s value for IHT. Personal representatives will take on responsibility for reporting and paying any resulting tax. Estates close to or above the nil-rate band (currently £325,000, or £500,000 with the residence nil-rate band) should take professional advice on the overall position.
The expression of wishes form remains relevant even after the April 2027 change — it continues to direct who receives the pension fund, and naming the surviving spouse as beneficiary may still affect the IHT position through the spousal exemption.
Source: Finance Act 2026, Royal Assent 18 March 2026. For the broader context of pension inheritance, see our general guide to what happens to a pension when someone dies.
Annuity death benefits
An annuity is fundamentally different from a pension pot. When someone buys an annuity at retirement — exchanging their pension savings for a guaranteed income for life — there is no remaining pot to inherit when they die. What does or does not continue depends entirely on how the annuity was set up at the time of purchase.
The three main options an Aviva annuity holder may have chosen are:
Single life, no guarantee: Payments stop on the annuitant’s death. Nothing passes to any beneficiary.
Joint life annuity: A reduced income continues to a named partner for the rest of their life. The surviving partner needs to contact Aviva to confirm that payments will be redirected — Aviva will not automatically know to continue paying without being told who the surviving partner is and where to pay them.
Guarantee period: Aviva continues making payments for a fixed number of years (chosen at the time of purchase, up to 30 years) even if the annuitant dies within that period. If the annuitant died within the guarantee period, the remaining payments continue to the estate or named beneficiary.
Source: Aviva — what happens to an annuity when you die, verified May 2026.
Notify Aviva promptly about an annuity death. Any payments made into the deceased’s bank account after the date of death will need to be returned. The executor or administrator of the estate is responsible for repaying any overpayments.
How long does it take?
Aviva does not publish fixed timelines, because processing time depends on what documents are available and how quickly they are received.
| Pension type | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Workplace pension — clear nomination on file | Several weeks from death certificate receipt |
| Workplace pension — no nomination | Longer — trustees must review circumstances and make enquiries |
| Personal pension / SIPP — clear nomination | Similar to workplace pension; faster with clear documentation |
| Personal pension / SIPP — no nomination | Several weeks to months depending on complexity |
| Annuity — single life | Payments stop; no further claim unless guarantee period applies |
| Annuity — joint life or guarantee period | Aviva will confirm continuing payments or remaining benefit due |
The most consistent cause of delay is missing documentation. If Aviva has to request additional information several times, each exchange adds time. Providing the death certificate, the pension reference number, and any expression of wishes form as early as possible keeps things moving.
For broader context on estate administration timelines, see our guide to what happens to a pension when someone dies.
Tips and common pitfalls
The deceased may not have known they had an Aviva pension. Auto-enrolment means many workers were placed into an Aviva workplace scheme by their employer without actively choosing it. The employer selected Aviva; the employee may have done nothing beyond opting in. Look through old payslips, any annual pension statements (often sent by post), and email inboxes for Aviva correspondence.
Check bank statements for Aviva contributions. If the deceased was paying into a personal pension or SIPP, regular payments to Aviva will show in bank or credit card statements. Former Aviva brands — including Norwich Union and CGU — are also worth checking; Aviva now administers all of these.
Use the Pension Tracing Service for lost pensions. If you suspect the deceased held a pension from a previous employer but cannot locate the details, the government’s free Pension Tracing Service can help you find contact details by employer name. The service gives you contact details only; you then contact Aviva directly to confirm whether a pension exists and how to claim.
An outdated nomination can cause delays. If the deceased completed a nomination form decades ago — before a divorce, remarriage, or the birth of children — Aviva will see an instruction that no longer reflects the deceased’s likely wishes. Aviva will still exercise discretion, but the process takes longer and the outcome is less certain. If you find a nomination form that looks out of date, tell Aviva and provide any more recent evidence of intent.
Multiple Aviva pensions from multiple employers are each separate. One workplace pension from a previous employer is completely separate from another from a later employer. Each must be contacted and claimed individually.
The two-year window runs from notification, not from death. For deaths under age 75, the tax-free treatment of lump sum death benefits depends on Aviva being notified within two years of the date of death. Do not wait until other aspects of the estate are resolved before contacting Aviva’s pensions team.
Do not wait for probate before calling. Pension death benefits are paid at Aviva’s discretion and bypass the estate. You can — and should — start the pension claim process immediately, regardless of where probate is up to.
For a broader look at other pension providers the deceased may have held accounts with, see our guide to what happens to a pension when someone dies, the Pension Tracing Service, and our Legal & General pension bereavement guide for the sister guide to another of the UK’s largest pension providers.
If the deceased also had a state pension or you are a surviving spouse wondering what you can inherit, see our guide to what happens to the state pension when someone dies.
Summary
Aviva pension death benefits are paid at Aviva’s discretion, guided by any expression of wishes form on file. The pension pot bypasses probate and — for deaths before 6 April 2027 — sits outside the estate for inheritance tax.
Contact details (verified May 2026):
| Contact route | Details |
|---|---|
| Main bereavement line (pensions and savings) | 0800 015 1142 – Monday–Friday 8am–6pm, free to call |
| International | +44 1603 603 277 |
| Online notification | aviva.co.uk/help-and-support/contact-us/notify-us-of-a-bereavement |
Immediate actions:
- Identify which Aviva pension product(s) the deceased held — workplace GPP, Retirement Account, personal pension, SIPP, or annuity
- Order several certified copies of the death certificate from the register office
- Locate any expression of wishes or nomination form — check with any financial adviser the deceased used, or with the employer’s HR team
- Call 0800 015 1142 as soon as possible — the two-year clock for tax-free treatment (for deaths under 75) starts from when Aviva is notified
- Do not wait for probate — pension death benefits are paid outside the estate at Aviva’s discretion
- If you are unsure whether a pension exists, give Aviva the deceased’s name, date of birth, and National Insurance number — they will search their records
For pension products held with Aviva life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, or investment accounts, see our full Aviva bereavement guide, which covers all Aviva product types and contact routes.
If you are uncertain whether the deceased held pension accounts with other providers, the Pension Tracing Service is the right starting point.