What happens if you die

Death Grant Lump Sum

From the first day of your LGPS membership, a death grant lump sum equal to 3 times your annual pensionable pay is payable if you die in service.

All members should complete a death grant nomination form. This allows you to nominate one or more individuals or an organisation to receive any relevant death grant payment.

Gwynedd Pension Fund will make the final decision regarding who receives the lump sum, but your wishes will always be taken into account.

If you decide to change your beneficiary, any new nomination form received will replace the previous one.

If no nomination form is held, the death grant lump sum may be paid to your estate or a known spouse.

Survivor's Pension

If you die leaving a spouse, civil partner or eligible cohabiting partner, they may be entitled to receive a survivor's pension.

This pension is payable for life and will increase annually in line with the cost of living.

How is the survivor's pension calculated?

Your spouse's or civil partner's pension

The pension will be equal to 1/160 of your pensionable pay multiplied by your total membership up to the date of your death, plus the membership you could have built up between the date of your death and the date you would have reached age 65.

Cohabiting partner

The pension will be equal to 1/160 of your pensionable pay multiplied by the total membership built up from 6 April 1988 to the date of your death, plus the membership you could have built up between the date of your death and the date you would have reached age 65.

Membership before 6 April 1988 will also be included if you have paid the relevant additional contributions to include that service when calculating a cohabiting partner's pension.

Children's Pension

In addition to the survivor benefits above, a pension may be payable to eligible children.

A child will normally be eligible if they are:

• Under age 18.
• Between ages 18 and 23 and in full-time education.
• Born within 12 months of your death.
• Wholly or mainly dependent on you.
• Of any age and unable to work because of a permanent physical or mental impairment.

For this purpose, work means paid employment of at least 30 hours per week for a period of at least 12 months.

The total children's pension payable depends on the number of eligible children and whether a survivor's pension is payable to a spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner.

How is a children's pension calculated?

If a survivor's pension is payable

One child: 1/320 of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to the date of your death, plus the membership you could have built up to your NPA.

Two or more children: 1/160 of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to the date of your death, plus the membership you could have built up to your NPA. The amount will be shared equally between the children.

If no survivor's pension is payable

One child: 1/240 of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to the date of your death, plus the membership you could have built up to your NPA.

Two or more children: 1/120 of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to the date of your death, plus the membership you could have built up to your NPA. The amount will be shared equally between the children.