If you have a defined contribution plan, as all private pensions and most workplace pensions are, any unspent money in your pension pot can be passed onto family when you die. If you have a defined benefit plan (also known as a final salary pension), which is the case for a lot of public sector workers, you cannot pass it onto family, but the scheme might make provision for your family when you die. You might also be able to transfer to a defined contribution pension scheme but the Financial Conduct Authority consider that most people will be best off keeping these valuable arrangements.