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 the claim process looks like from start to finish, how expression of wishes nominations work, the difference between a death in service benefit and a pension pot, how inherited drawdown works, what happens with cohabiting partners, and what the April 2027 inheritance tax change means. 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)
- International: +44 1603 603 277
- Postal address: Aviva, Wellington Row, York, YO90 1WR
- 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; registered office address confirmed via Companies House – Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited.
What to do first: a practical process guide
Before calling Aviva, it helps to understand the sequence of steps. Below is the order that works in most cases.
| Step | Action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Register the death at the register office | You need the death certificate before you can do anything else |
| 2 | Order several certified copies of the death certificate | Each institution needs its own copy – order four to six to start |
| 3 | Find the Aviva pension reference number | On pension statements, payslips, or any Aviva correspondence; Aviva can search without it but it speeds things up |
| 4 | Search for an expression of wishes form | Check personal papers, any financial adviser the deceased used, and the employer’s HR department |
| 5 | Call Aviva on 0800 015 1142 | This starts the formal process and – critically – starts the two-year clock for tax-free payment |
| 6 | Aviva confirms what documents to send | Typically the death certificate, your ID, proof of your relationship to the deceased |
| 7 | Submit documents | By post or as scanned copies as Aviva directs |
| 8 | Aviva reviews the nomination and makes a decision | For clear nominations with all documents, several weeks; longer if there is no nomination or competing claims |
| 9 | Aviva contacts the beneficiary to discuss payment options | Lump sum, flexi-access drawdown, or annuity |
| 10 | Payment is made | Direct to the beneficiary; no probate needed in most cases |
Do not wait for probate before calling Aviva at step 5. Pension death benefits bypass the estate and can be claimed entirely independently of probate.
Source: gov.uk – register a death.
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.
Defined benefit / with-profits legacy products: Some older employers used Aviva’s defined benefit platform or earlier with-profits products (previously under the Norwich Union or CGU brands, now administered by Aviva). Death benefits from these schemes are typically a lump sum and/or an ongoing pension for dependants, calculated differently from a pot value. If you suspect the deceased held a defined benefit Aviva pension, call 0800 015 1142 and Aviva will search their records. See the defined benefit 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.
If you would rather write in, or need to send original documents by post, Aviva’s registered address is Aviva, Wellington Row, York, YO90 1WR. This is the address Aviva uses for its Life & Pensions business and is confirmed on the Companies House register. Calling or using the online form is faster in most cases – reserve post for documents Aviva has specifically asked you to send in.
Aviva checks 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.
Tell Us Once does not cover Aviva pensions. Tell Us Once is the government service for notifying public-sector departments and schemes – it does not extend to private pension providers. You must contact Aviva directly.
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 |
| Evidence of cohabitation and financial dependency | If claiming as an unmarried partner without a nomination | Joint bank statements, joint tenancy agreement, utility bills at a shared address, statement about the nature of the relationship |
| 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.
Death in service benefit vs the pension pot
This distinction catches many families out. They are separate products, claimed through different routes, and often confused with each other.
The pension pot is the accumulated retirement savings: everything the employee and employer have contributed over the years, plus investment growth. This is held by Aviva as pension scheme administrator, subject to expression of wishes nominations, and claimed by calling 0800 015 1142.
The death in service benefit is a lump sum – typically two to four times annual salary – paid by an employer’s group life insurance scheme when an employee dies while still employed. This is not a pension product. It is set up and funded by the employer, not the employee. Aviva may or may not be the insurer; many employers use a different provider for group life cover. The claim for death in service goes through the employer’s HR team or the group life insurer, not through Aviva’s pension bereavement line.
The two benefits are governed by separate expression of wishes forms:
- The pension pot expression of wishes (the Aviva form LF40045 for Pension Portfolio/SIPP, or an employer-specific nomination form for workplace schemes) directs the pension money.
- The death in service nomination form is typically held by the employer or the group life scheme trustee and directs the lump sum.
Both forms need to be located and both processes started separately. If the deceased was still employed at the time of death, contact the employer’s HR department to ask which company provided the group life scheme and how to claim. Aviva’s pension team can only deal with the pension side.
Source: Aviva – the difference between death in service and life insurance.
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.
Cohabiting partners
A cohabiting partner – someone who was in a long-term relationship with the deceased but was not married and not in a civil partnership – has no automatic legal entitlement to an Aviva pension death benefit. The rules depend on whether a nomination exists.
If the member nominated their partner on the expression of wishes form: This is the cleanest route. Aviva will normally pay the nominated partner, subject to the discretionary review process. If the partner is named clearly on a current nomination form, the process is broadly the same as for a spouse.
If no nomination exists: A cohabiting partner may still receive the benefit, but they will need to demonstrate that they qualify as a dependant under the Finance Act 2004 definition. A person qualifies as a dependant if, at the date of the member’s death, one of the following was true:
- They were financially dependent on the member (for example, the member was the primary earner and the partner relied on their income)
- Their financial relationship with the member was one of mutual dependence (for example, they pooled income and neither could maintain their standard of living without the other)
- They were dependent on the member because of physical or mental impairment
To support a claim under any of these grounds, Aviva will typically need evidence of:
- Shared address (joint tenancy, mortgage, or utility bills)
- Joint bank accounts or evidence of shared finances
- The nature and length of the relationship
- Any financial dependency (who paid for what, whether the partner was employed, shared living costs)
A written statement explaining the circumstances of the relationship, supported by documentary evidence, is the normal starting point. Aviva will then exercise its discretion.
Without a nomination and without evidence of financial dependency, Aviva may pay the pot to a surviving spouse (if one exists), other family members, or ultimately to the estate. The longer a couple had been cohabiting and the clearer the financial interdependence, the stronger the case.
Source: Finance Act 2004, s.167 (definition of dependant for pension scheme purposes); gov.uk – tax on a private pension you inherit.
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.
Flexi-access drawdown (inherited pension): The beneficiary inherits the pension as a drawdown fund and can draw on it over time, keeping the remaining balance invested. See the inherited drawdown section below for how this works in practice.
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.
Inherited drawdown: how it works
Beneficiary flexi-access drawdown – also called an inherited pension – is an option that lets a beneficiary receive the Aviva pension pot without taking it all as a lump sum immediately. Instead, the money stays invested and the beneficiary withdraws from it at their own pace. This is available through the Aviva Platform.
Who can use it: Any beneficiary Aviva decides to pay can choose inherited drawdown rather than a lump sum. It is not restricted to spouses or dependants. A friend, sibling, or adult child nominated on the expression of wishes form can all use this option.
How it works in practice:
- Aviva establishes a beneficiary drawdown account in the beneficiary’s own name
- The beneficiary chooses how to invest the remaining pot (using Aviva’s fund range on the Aviva Platform)
- The beneficiary can withdraw money as lump sums or regular income at any frequency they choose
- There is no minimum age requirement – a young adult beneficiary can access inherited drawdown immediately
- The inherited pot is held separately from any pension the beneficiary has built up in their own right; the two accounts remain distinct
Tax treatment:
- If the deceased died before age 75, withdrawals from the inherited drawdown account are tax-free
- If the deceased died at age 75 or over, withdrawals are taxed at the beneficiary’s marginal income tax rate in the year of withdrawal
- The inherited pot is not tested against the beneficiary’s own lump sum and death benefit allowance in the same way as a lump sum would be
What happens when the beneficiary dies: If a beneficiary uses inherited drawdown and later dies themselves, whatever remains in the inherited drawdown account can be passed on to the next generation under broadly the same rules. Aviva will exercise discretion again, and the tax treatment will depend on the age of the original member (not the beneficiary) at the time of their death in some legacy cases – although HMRC rules in this area have evolved and beneficiaries should take specific advice.
The key decision when choosing between a lump sum and inherited drawdown is usually: does the beneficiary need the money now, or would they benefit from keeping it invested and drawing on it over time? A lump sum is simpler; inherited drawdown gives more flexibility but requires ongoing management.
Source: Aviva Platform documentation; gov.uk – tax on a private pension you inherit; HMRC rules on pension death benefits.
MyAviva and the Aviva Platform: what beneficiaries can access
Beneficiaries cannot – and should not – log into the deceased’s MyAviva account. Digital account access belongs to the account holder, and when Aviva is notified of a death, the account is frozen and no further transactions are processed. Trying to access the deceased’s online account is not the right route and will not help progress the claim.
If the deceased had an Aviva Platform investment or drawdown account that you need to identify, the information to locate it comes through Aviva’s bereavement team, not through the deceased’s login.
What beneficiaries deal with instead:
- All communication goes through Aviva’s bereavement team on 0800 015 1142 or the online notification form
- If a beneficiary chooses inherited drawdown as their payment option, Aviva will set up a new beneficiary drawdown account in the beneficiary’s own name on the Aviva Platform – the beneficiary will then have their own MyAviva login for that account
- If you need to identify whether the deceased held assets on the Aviva Platform (investments, ISAs, drawdown funds), include this in your initial call; Aviva can search across product types using the deceased’s name and NI number
For financial advisers: If the deceased had a financial adviser managing their Aviva Platform account, the adviser can assist in identifying what products are held and contacting Aviva on the family’s behalf.
Defined benefit and legacy Aviva pensions
Some older employers set up defined benefit (DB) pension schemes through what was then Norwich Union or CGU – both now part of Aviva. If the deceased was employed before the 1990s, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, retail, or financial services, there is a possibility they accrued defined benefit entitlements that are now administered by Aviva.
Defined benefit pensions work differently from defined contribution pensions:
- The death benefit is not a pot value – it is usually a formula-linked benefit based on years of service and the member’s salary at leaving or death
- A surviving spouse or civil partner is typically entitled to an ongoing dependant’s pension – a regular income for the rest of their life, usually 50% of the pension the member was drawing or would have drawn
- There may also be a separate lump sum death benefit, typically linked to salary
- The size of the benefit depends entirely on the scheme rules – there is no standard formula across all DB schemes
How to check if a DB pension exists:
- Look for any annual pension statements from Norwich Union, CGU, or Aviva that show a “guaranteed pension” or “defined benefit” reference
- Ask former employers (going back several decades if relevant) which pension scheme they used and who the scheme administrator is
- Call Aviva on 0800 015 1142 and ask specifically about defined benefit or final salary pensions administered by Aviva, Norwich Union, or CGU
The Pension Tracing Service can also help you find contact details for schemes associated with previous employers.
If a DB pension is confirmed, Aviva (or the scheme trustees) will issue a claim form and explain what documents are needed to establish entitlement. Processing is often slower than for defined contribution pensions, as the calculations are more involved.
Source: gov.uk – what happens if someone dies and has a defined benefit pension; Aviva – what is a defined benefit pension.
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.
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.
What remains exempt from the April 2027 change:
- Death in service benefits from a registered pension scheme
- Dependant’s scheme pensions from defined benefit arrangements
- Benefits passing to a surviving spouse or civil partner (spousal IHT exemption)
- Benefits passing to a registered charity
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. Our guide to inheritance tax on pensions explains the reform in full, including which benefits stay outside the estate and how it interacts with the nil-rate band.
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 |
| Defined benefit pension | Often longer – calculation-based; Aviva will advise once product is confirmed |
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 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.
The pension and the death in service benefit are not the same thing. Contact the employer’s HR team to establish which company provides the group life cover for the death in service benefit – it may not be Aviva.
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
- If the deceased was still employed, ask the employer’s HR team about the death in service benefit separately – this is a different product from the pension
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.