Assalamu 'Alaikum
My husband and I are both enrolled on our respective workplace pensions. In the event of either one of us dying in service, the pension would pay a death in service benefit plus an annual payment to the the spouse thereafter (a much smaller amount compared to the death in service amount).
From what I’ve read on the forum and elsewhere, I have deduced that the death in service benefit would count towards the Islamic estate and must be divided amongst the heirs. My question is regarding the annual pension payments made to the surviving spouse after death. As these would be made to the spouse for as long as the spouse goes on to live, would these payments also need to be divided between surviving heirs as long as they continue to be received? Unless of course the other surviving heirs clearly state they wish the spouse to retain the payments and are happy not to receive their share.
JazakAllah Khair