How money changes when one partner dies

This is a hard thing to think about, and a kind thing to plan for. When one partner in a couple dies, the household income usually drops more than people expect, while many of the bills stay much the same. This tool gives a gentle estimate of the new single income, the likely shortfall, and the things worth checking, so that a grieving partner is not also caught out by money. It is an estimate to start a conversation, not advice.

Your current joint monthly income, after tax (£)

How much of the income would be lost if one of you died?

Roughly one State Pension is lost, the rest continues Roughly half the income is lost I will enter the lost amount myself

Current monthly council tax (£)

Is there still a mortgage or secured loan on the home?

No, the home is owned outright Yes, there is a mortgage or secured loan

The change, month by month

Item	Now (couple)	After (single)

Copy this data as text

Assumptions and indicative figures: the full new State Pension is about £11,973 a year in 2025 to 2026, which is roughly £998 a month, so losing one State Pension is modelled at that figure. Please confirm the current rate at gov.uk, as it changes each April and many people receive more or less than the full amount. A single person living alone usually gets a 25% discount on their council tax, which this tool applies. State Pension does not simply transfer to a survivor, though some workplace and private pensions pay a reduced survivor benefit, so check each pension separately. This is a rough guide, not a calculation of your real entitlement.