SERPS or the state earnings related pension, is having a few rule changes from the 5th Of April this year. Previously when buying your annuity you had to allow for a 50% spouses pension, this will now no longer be the case. You will at retirement now have the option of how you wish to set your annuity up. This means that people who have already independently catered financialy, or who may be have a want for a bigger annuity for themselves can now use their SERPS fund to purcahse a 100% of the annuity rather than having to leave additional benefits to their spouse or partner. This in turn would lead to a higher monthly income, not forgetting that on your demise the pension would stop.