The additional State Pension was previously known as the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) and the State Second Pension. Your entitlement to an extra amount from the state is assessed on your National Insurance contributions.
State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS)
Until April 2002, the additional State Pension for employees was called the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS).
The amount of SERPS pension you received was based on:
- your National Insurance contributions
- how much you earned
Inheriting your spouse or civil partner’s SERPS
The amount of SERPS pension that you could inherit depends on the date of birth of the person who has died. Use the following table to see how this might affect you.
Maximum SERPS a man’s wife or civil partner can inherit
| Man’s date of birth | Maximum percentage of SERPS pension that the man’s wife or civil partner can inherit |
| 5 October 1937 or before | 100% |
| Between 6 October 1937 and 5 October 1939 | 90% |
| Between 6 October 1939 and 5 October 1941 | 80% |
| Between 6 October 1941 and 5 October 1943 | 70% |
| Between 6 October 1943 and 5 October 1945 | 60% |
| 6 October 1945 and after | 50% |
Maximum SERPS a woman’s husband or civil partner can inherit
| Woman’s date of birth | Maximum percentage of SERPS pension that the woman’s husband or civil partner can inherit |
| 5 October 1942 or before | 100% |
| Between 6 October 1942 and 5 October 1944 | 90% |
| Between 6 October 1944 and 5 October 1946 | 80% |
| Between 6 October 1946 and 5 October 1948 | 70% |
| Between 6 October 1948 and 5 July 1950 | 60% |
| 6 July 1950 and after | 50% |