Royal London is the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, with around 8.6 million customers. Founded in 1861, it is entirely member-owned — there are no shareholders — and it manages over £170 billion in assets. If the person you have lost held a pension with Royal London, you are likely dealing with a workplace group personal pension, a personal pension, a with-profits pension from an older policy, or a pension taken out through a financial adviser under the former Scottish Life brand.
This guide covers pension death benefits only. For Royal London life insurance, protection policies, over-50s plans, and endowments, see our separate guide on notifying Royal London when someone dies.
Pensions are fundamentally different from most estate assets. A Royal London pension pot does not automatically form part of the deceased’s estate. Instead, it passes outside probate under a discretionary trust structure, guided by any expression of wishes nomination the deceased completed. Understanding this before you make your first call makes the whole process clearer.
For a broader explanation of how pension death benefits work across all provider types, see our guide to what happens to pensions when someone dies.
Quick reference:
- Pensions held directly with Royal London (or formerly United Assurance): 0345 646 2112, Mon–Fri 8am–6pm
- Pensions arranged through a financial adviser (or formerly Scottish Life): 0345 646 2105, Mon–Fri 8am–6pm
- Online notification: royallondon.com – tell us about a bereavement
Source: Royal London bereavement page, verified May 2026.
Royal London’s pension products
Royal London offers several pension types. Knowing which type the deceased held tells you which contact number to use and what to expect in terms of process and options.
Workplace pension (group personal pension): Royal London is a major provider of auto-enrolment workplace pensions for UK employers, particularly smaller and medium-sized businesses. Many workers are enrolled automatically and may not have actively engaged with the scheme or know their plan details. Look through old payslips and annual pension statements — the scheme name and provider should appear on those documents. Royal London workplace pensions often use their Governed Portfolios range as the default fund.
Personal pension (Pension Portfolio): Royal London’s individual personal pension, the Pension Portfolio, is open to individuals and the self-employed. It offers a wide range of investment choices and can also be used to consolidate pensions from previous employers. Members typically have an online account through the Royal London customer portal.
With-profits pension: Royal London has a large book of older with-profits pension policies, some dating back decades and including policies originally issued by Royal London’s predecessor brands. With-profits pensions grow through a combination of declared bonuses (annual) and a terminal bonus paid when the policy matures or a death claim is made. The terminal bonus can represent a significant portion of the payout and is determined at the time of claim.
Former Scottish Life pensions: Royal London acquired Scottish Life in 2001. If the deceased held a pension that was originally with Scottish Life, Royal London administers it but the bereavement contact number is different — use 0345 646 2105 (the adviser-placed pensions line) rather than the direct contact number.
Former United Assurance pensions: United Assurance was acquired by Royal London in 2000. Pensions originally held with United Assurance before 2004 are administered through the direct Royal London line: 0345 646 2112.
Retirement drawdown: Royal London also provides pension drawdown products, allowing members to draw on their pension pot flexibly from retirement. If the deceased was in drawdown at the time of death, the remaining fund is still a death benefit to be distributed — the same pension bereavement process applies.
Annuities: Royal London offers guaranteed annuities — a regular income purchased with pension savings at retirement. If the deceased was receiving a Royal London annuity rather than drawing from a pension pot, the death benefit rules are different (covered in the annuity section below).
How to notify Royal London of a death
By phone
The right number depends on how the pension was originally arranged:
- Call 0345 646 2112 for pensions held directly with Royal London or originally with United Assurance (pre-2004). Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, excluding bank holidays.
- Call 0345 646 2105 for pensions arranged through a financial adviser, or originally issued by Scottish Life. Also open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, excluding bank holidays.
If you are not sure which category applies, call 0345 646 2112 first and they will direct you. Both are 0345 numbers, included in most mobile and landline inclusive call packages.
You do not need the plan or policy number before calling. Royal London can search their records using the deceased’s full name, date of birth, and last known address. Having plan numbers ready will speed things up, but they are not a barrier to getting started.
Online
Royal London’s online bereavement notification form is at royallondon.com/existing-customers/help-and-support/make-a-claim/tell-us-about-a-bereavement/. Royal London say it takes around two minutes to complete and they aim to make first contact within five working days of receiving a notification.
What to have ready
| Information needed | Details |
|---|---|
| Deceased's full name, date of birth, and address | Standard identification for all pension claims |
| Date of death | Triggers the formal claim process and starts relevant timelines |
| Plan or policy number | On annual pension statements or welcome letters — helpful but not essential for first contact |
| Whether the pension was arranged directly or through an adviser | Determines which contact number applies |
| Your name, relationship to deceased, and contact details | Royal London will correspond with you throughout the process |
| Expression of wishes or nomination form | Critical for death benefit decisions — find this before calling if possible |
| Executor's name (if a will has been left) | Royal London may ask, particularly for larger or more complex estates |
Source: Royal London bereavement notification, verified May 2026.
Expression of wishes nominations
The expression of wishes form — sometimes called a nomination of beneficiary form — is the most important pension document you may find in the deceased’s papers. It tells Royal London’s trustees who the deceased wanted to receive the pension death benefit.
Royal London’s trustees are not legally bound to follow the nomination. Pension death benefits are held under a discretionary trust, which means the trustees make the final decision. In practice, when there is a clear, up-to-date nomination and no competing claims, trustees almost always follow the deceased’s wishes. When there is no nomination, the trustees must make their own enquiries — reviewing family circumstances, any financial dependants, and any indication of intent in correspondence or the will. This takes considerably longer.
When nominations cause problems: If the deceased completed a nomination form years ago and never updated it after a divorce, remarriage, or the birth of new children, the trustees will see an outdated instruction. They will still exercise their discretion, but the process takes longer. If you find a nomination form that looks outdated, tell Royal London when you call — they will take the full picture into account.
Where to look: Check all pension paperwork, annual statements, and personal files. If the deceased had a financial adviser, the adviser may hold a copy. If the pension was through a workplace scheme, the employer’s HR or payroll department may have a record.
After April 2027: The Finance Act 2026 changes the inheritance tax treatment of pensions from 6 April 2027 (see the IHT section below). Nominations remain just as important after this change — directing the pension to a surviving spouse or civil partner continues to attract a full spouse exemption from inheritance tax. Keeping nominations up to date is more important than ever.
Source: Royal London – death benefits: discretion and nomination, verified May 2026.
What documents you will need
The death certificate is the foundation of every pension claim. This is the certified copy issued by the register office after you have registered the death — not the medical certificate from the doctor or hospital. If a coroner’s inquest is underway, Royal London can usually accept an interim death certificate to start the process, though the final certificate is typically required before any payment is authorised.
Order more certified copies than you think you need. Each financial institution requires its own original or certified copy — you cannot pass one between multiple organisations. Four to six copies is a sensible starting point if the deceased held pensions and other accounts with multiple providers. Each copy costs around £12.50 in England and Wales from the register office.
Source: gov.uk — register a death.
| Document | Why it is needed | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate (original or certified copy) | Required to begin all pension claims | Register office — order multiple copies |
| Pension plan or policy number | Identifies the specific pension account | Annual pension statements or welcome letters |
| National Insurance number | Royal London can use it to search their records for all products held | P60s, payslips, or any HMRC correspondence |
| Expression of wishes form | Guides trustees on who to pay the death benefit to | Pension paperwork, financial adviser, or HR department |
| Your identity and proof of relationship | Royal London will confirm their requirements when you call | Passport, driving licence, or birth/marriage certificate |
| Marriage or civil partnership certificate | Required if claiming as a surviving spouse or civil partner | Original certificate from personal papers or General Register Office |
| Grant of probate or letters of administration | Only required if the pension is to be paid into the estate — rare for pensions | Probate registry, but most pension death benefits bypass the estate entirely |
| Your bank account details | Required to receive any lump sum death benefit payment | Your own bank statement |
Do not wait for probate before contacting Royal London. Pension death benefits are typically paid outside the estate, so the pension claim and the probate process run in parallel.
How death benefits are paid
Defined contribution pensions (workplace and personal)
When someone holding a Royal London defined contribution pension dies, the remaining pot becomes a death benefit distributed at the trustees’ discretion. The trustees are guided by the expression of wishes nomination and their investigation of the deceased’s family circumstances. Beneficiaries can generally choose how to receive the benefit:
- Lump sum: A single payment made directly to the beneficiary or beneficiaries. This is the most common choice.
- Drawdown (inherited pension): The beneficiary inherits the pension pot as a drawdown fund — the money stays invested, and the beneficiary can draw it down over time at a pace that suits their tax position.
- Annuity: The beneficiary uses the pension pot to purchase their own annuity, creating a guaranteed income.
The options available depend on the scheme rules and the beneficiary’s circumstances. Royal London’s bereavement team will explain what is available once they have reviewed the nomination and the account.
Tax treatment
The age of the deceased at death determines how the death benefit is taxed.
Died before age 75: Beneficiaries can generally receive the pension pot tax-free — either as a lump sum or as income drawn from an inherited drawdown fund — up to the lump sum and death benefit allowance (£1,073,100 for 2025/26, combined across all pension death benefits). Anything above this allowance is taxed as income at the beneficiary’s marginal rate.
There is also a critical two-year rule: if Royal London is not notified of the death within two years of the date of death, any lump sum benefit becomes subject to income tax regardless of the deceased’s age. The two-year clock starts from when Royal London is notified — not from the date of death itself. This is why prompt notification matters.
Died at age 75 or over: All pension death benefits are taxed as income at the beneficiary’s marginal income tax rate. There is no tax-free treatment for deaths at or after age 75, whether taken as a lump sum or drawn down over time.
Source: gov.uk — tax on a private pension you inherit.
With-profits pension death benefits
With-profits pensions work slightly differently from standard defined contribution pots. The death benefit includes the guaranteed sum assured (or accumulated fund value), any annual reversionary bonuses declared over the policy’s life, and a terminal bonus. The terminal bonus is not guaranteed — it is declared by Royal London at the time of claim and can represent a substantial portion of the total payout. Royal London will calculate the full death benefit value and communicate it to you during the claim process.
Annuity death benefits
An annuity is different from a pension pot. When someone buys an annuity at retirement, they exchange their pension savings for a guaranteed income for life — there is no remaining pot to inherit. What passes to family members when an annuity holder dies depends entirely on what options the deceased chose at the time of purchase. Those choices cannot be changed after the annuity has been set up.
Royal London annuities may include the following death benefit options:
- Single life, no death benefit: Payments stop on the annuitant’s death. Nothing passes to any beneficiary.
- Joint life annuity: A continuing income — typically 50% or two-thirds of the original amount — is paid to the named partner for the rest of their life.
- Guarantee period: Payments continue for a fixed number of years (typically 5 or 10) even if the annuitant dies within that period. The remaining guaranteed payments are made to the estate or nominated beneficiary.
- Value protection: A lump sum equal to the original purchase price minus income already paid is returned on death, ensuring the full purchase price is not lost.
If you do not know which option the deceased had, contact Royal London on 0345 646 2112 and ask. Check any original policy documentation from when the annuity was set up — the purchase confirmation letter specifies what options were included.
Notify Royal London as soon as possible. Annuity payments made to 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.
Probate and when it is required
Probate is not typically required for pension death benefits. Because Royal London holds the pension under a discretionary trust and the trustees decide who receives the money, the pension generally sits outside the estate. No grant of probate is needed for the trustees to pay the death benefit.
If, unusually, the trustees decide to pay the pension benefit into the estate — for example because there are no surviving beneficiaries and no clear nomination — then the death benefit would become an estate asset and probate would be required before it could be distributed.
In England and Wales, a grant of probate is the legal authority to administer an estate. In Scotland, the equivalent is confirmation from the Sheriff Court. In Northern Ireland, the Probate Office of the High Court grants probate. Royal London will tell you whether they require probate when you call.
Source: gov.uk — applying for probate.
The April 2027 pension IHT change
Until 5 April 2027, Royal London pension pots — personal pensions, workplace pensions, with-profits pensions, and most drawdown funds — sit outside the estate for inheritance tax purposes. Because the trustees hold the pension under a discretionary trust, it is not legally part of the deceased’s estate, and inheritance tax does not apply to the pension’s value.
From 6 April 2027, this changes. The Finance Act 2026 (Royal Assent: 18 March 2026) brings most unused pension funds and defined contribution death benefits within the scope of inheritance tax. The pension pot’s value will count towards the total value of the estate, and inheritance tax at 40% will apply on the value above the available nil-rate bands.
Key points about the change:
The government estimated around 38,500 estates per year will pay additional inheritance tax as a result, with an average additional liability of approximately £34,000. The change particularly affects estates where the deceased had deliberately left pension pots undrawn as a wealth transfer vehicle rather than as retirement income.
The spouse and civil partner exemption continues in full. Pension death benefits directed to a surviving spouse or civil partner through the expression of wishes nomination attract the spouse exemption — no inheritance tax on those transfers. Directing the pension to a surviving spouse remains the most tax-efficient option where it reflects the deceased’s wishes.
Death in service lump sums are excluded from the new charge. These continue to sit outside the estate and outside inheritance tax, even for deaths on or after 6 April 2027.
The expression of wishes nomination still determines who receives the pension — Royal London’s trustees continue to distribute based on the nomination. But inheritance tax is now calculated at estate level, with pension schemes participating in a new HMRC Pension Inheritance Tax Payments Scheme to pay any IHT due to HMRC before the net benefit is distributed. Royal London has indicated it will operate this withholding mechanism as required.
For deaths before 6 April 2027, the current rules apply in full — pension pots outside the estate, no IHT on the pension value. For deaths on or after that date, the pension’s value must be factored into the estate’s overall inheritance tax position. If values are material, taking advice from a solicitor, accountant, or pension specialist is worth considering.
Sources: Finance Act 2026 — inheritance tax on unused pension funds and death benefits; gov.uk technical note on inheritance tax on pensions; Royal London – IHT on pension death benefits from April 2027.
How long does it take?
Processing time varies based on the clarity of the nomination, how quickly documents arrive, and the complexity of the family situation.
| Pension type | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Workplace or personal pension — clear expression of wishes nomination | 4–8 weeks once death certificate and documents received |
| Workplace or personal pension — no nomination form | Longer — trustees must investigate before making a decision |
| With-profits pension — clear nomination | 4–8 weeks; Royal London calculates final terminal bonus at time of claim |
| With-profits pension — complex family circumstances | Several months in more complex cases |
| Former Scottish Life or United Assurance pension | Similar to above — contact the correct team as early as possible |
| Annuity — single life, no death benefit | Payments stop; no further payment to beneficiaries |
| Annuity — joint life or guarantee period | Royal London confirms continuing payments or pays remaining guaranteed amount |
Royal London aim to make first contact within five working days of receiving an online notification. The most consistent cause of delay is incomplete documentation — if Royal London have to come back to you for further information, each round trip adds time. Providing the death certificate, plan number, and nomination form as early as possible keeps things moving.
Tips and common pitfalls
The two-year clock starts from notification, not death. For deaths under age 75, the tax-free treatment of lump sum death benefits depends on Royal London being notified within two years of the date of death. Do not wait on other parts of the estate to be settled before contacting the pension team.
There are two different pension contact numbers. Calling the wrong one means being transferred or having to call again. If the pension was arranged directly — for example, through the Royal London website or an employer that dealt directly with Royal London — use 0345 646 2112. If a financial adviser set up the pension, or if it was originally a Scottish Life policy, use 0345 646 2105.
Life insurance and pensions are completely separate teams. Notifying the life insurance number (0345 646 2094) does not notify the pension team. If the deceased held both, you need to contact both separately. When you call, ask whether they can see any other Royal London products on the deceased’s records.
Outdated nominations cause delays. If the expression of wishes form was completed years ago and the deceased’s family circumstances have changed — through divorce, remarriage, or new children — the trustees will see an instruction that may no longer reflect the deceased’s wishes. Tell Royal London when you call; they will take the full picture into account.
The with-profits terminal bonus is unknown until claim time. If the deceased held a with-profits pension, the total death benefit is not fixed in advance. Royal London declares the terminal bonus at the time of claim. For older policies with large fund values, this can be a substantial amount. Ask Royal London for a death benefit illustration as early as possible in the process.
ProfitShare applies to living customers, not death claims. Royal London’s ProfitShare scheme distributes a portion of profits to eligible customers each year. For deaths during the scheme year, Royal London will advise whether any ProfitShare award was accruing and how it is treated.
Check for multiple Royal London pension products. The deceased may have held more than one pension with Royal London — for example, a workplace pension from one employer and a personal pension opened separately. Royal London can check their records by National Insurance number; ask them to confirm all pension products held in the deceased’s name.
Use the Pension Tracing Service if unsure of the provider. If you suspect the deceased had pension savings but cannot confirm the provider, the government’s free Pension Tracing Service can help. Search by employer name to find the pension scheme and administrator’s contact details. It is the right first step when you are not certain where to start.
Summary
Royal London’s pension bereavement team is reached on two numbers:
- Pensions (direct / ex-United Assurance): 0345 646 2112 — Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- Pensions (adviser-placed / ex-Scottish Life): 0345 646 2105 — Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- Online: royallondon.com – tell us about a bereavement
| Product | Contact number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace pension (direct) | 0345 646 2112 | Mon–Fri 8am–6pm |
| Personal pension (direct) | 0345 646 2112 | Mon–Fri 8am–6pm |
| Ex-United Assurance pension | 0345 646 2112 | Mon–Fri 8am–6pm |
| Adviser-placed pension | 0345 646 2105 | Mon–Fri 8am–6pm |
| Ex-Scottish Life pension | 0345 646 2105 | Mon–Fri 8am–6pm |
| Annuity | 0345 646 2112 | Mon–Fri 8am–6pm |
Immediate actions:
- Find the pension documents — plan numbers, annual statements, any expression of wishes form
- Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate (around £12.50 each in England and Wales)
- Identify whether the pension was direct with Royal London or via an adviser — this determines which number to call
- Contact Royal London as soon as possible — the two-year clock for tax-free treatment (deaths under 75) starts from notification
- Do not wait for probate — pension death benefits are paid outside the estate at trustees’ discretion
- If you are not certain which pension provider the deceased used, contact the Pension Tracing Service
For a full explanation of how pension death benefits work across all providers, see our guide to what happens to pensions when someone dies. For Royal London life insurance, protection policies, and over-50s cover, see how to notify Royal London when someone dies.
If the deceased held pensions with other major providers, see our guides to claiming a Standard Life pension, claiming an Aviva pension, and claiming a Scottish Widows pension.
Sources
- Royal London bereavement page — verified May 2026
- Royal London – death benefits: discretion and nomination — verified May 2026
- Royal London – IHT on pension death benefits from April 2027 — verified May 2026
- gov.uk — tax on a private pension you inherit
- Finance Act 2026 — inheritance tax on unused pension funds and death benefits
- gov.uk technical note — inheritance tax on pensions
- gov.uk — register a death
- gov.uk — applying for probate