If you die while your pension is being paid, benefits may be payable to your:
- Spouse
- Civil Partner
- Cohabiting Partner
- Dependent children
- Nominated persons
- Preferred charitable organization
You may be able to get an estimated value of the benefits payable should you die by using benefit calculators on your My Pension Online account.
It is essential that the Pension Section is notified of a member’s death as quickly as possible to avoid an overpayment of pension.
When the Section is contacted, it would be helpful if the following information was available:
- Full name and address of the deceased
- The date of death
- Reference number such as National Insurance number or Pension number
- Full name and address of the Next of Kin and a contact telephone number
The Section will then establish what benefits are payable.
HMRC Tell Us Once service
Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. A registrar will explain the Tell Us Once service when you register the death.
In most cases, if you have used the Tell Us Once service to report a death, this service provides the necessary information and documentation we need.
Lump Sum Death Grant
Left before 01/04/2008
If you were in receipt of a pension for less than 5 years at your date of death, provided you are under age 75, a death grant equal to 5 times your annual pension less the total pension already paid will be payable.
All retired members of the scheme should complete a death grant expression of wish form. This allows you to propose 1 or more individuals or institutions to receive the relevant death grant payment, without it forming part of the estate for inheritance tax purposes.
We will have the final discretion as to whom the lump sum will be paid, but we will always take your wishes into consideration.
Each new form that we receive will take the place of the previous if you decide to change your beneficiary.
In the absence of an expression of wish form, the death grant lump sum will be paid to your estate or a known spouse. If there is no spouse/civil partner, probate of will or letters of administration will be required before the death grant payment can be made.
If you left between 01/04/2008 and 31 March 2014
If you were in receipt of a pension for less than 10 years at your date of death, provided you are under age 75 a death grant equal to 10 times your annual pension less the total pension already paid will be payable.
All retired members of the scheme should complete a death grant expression of wish form. This allows you to propose 1 or more individuals or institutions to receive the relevant death grant payment, without it forming part of the estate for inheritance tax purposes.
We will have the final discretion as to whom the lump sum will be paid, but we will always take your wishes into consideration.
Each new form that we receive will take the place of the previous if you decide to change your beneficiary.
In the absence of an expression of wish form, the death grant lump sum will be paid to your estate or a known spouse, civil partner or nominated co-habiting partner. If there is no spouse/civil partner, probate of will or letters of administration will be required before the death grant payment can be made.
If you left on or after 1 April 2014
The death grant payable will be equal to ten times the value of your annual pension less the pension already paid to you and any lump sum taken by giving up some of your CARE based pension.
If you are also an active member when you die, the death grant payable is the higher of the amount calculated as above, or three times your Assumed Pensionable Pay in your active employment.
If you die on or after age 75, no lump sum can be paid.
Survivor Benefits
Left before 01/04/2008
Widow’s pension
Following your death, your widow will receive a short-term pension equal to the pension you were receiving prior to death for a period of 3 months, or for 6 months if there is an eligible child in your widow’s care.
Once the short-term pension ceases, a long-term widow’s pension will be payable. This will be equal to 1/160th of your final pay, multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving.
If the marriage occurred after leaving active membership, only your post 5th April 1978 membership will be used.
Widower’s pension
Following your death, your widower will receive a short-term pension equal to the pension you were receiving prior to death for a period of 3 months, or for 6 months if there is an eligible child in your widower’s care.
Once the short-term pension ceases, a long-term widower’s pension will be payable. This will be equal to 1/160th of your final pay, multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving.
If the marriage occurred after leaving active membership, only your post 5th April 1988 membership will be used.
Civil Partner’s pension
Following your death, your Civil Partner will receive a short-term pension equal to the pension you were receiving prior to death for a period of 3 months, or for 6 months if there is an eligible child in your partner’s care.
Once the short-term pension ceases, a long-term Civil Partner’s pension will be payable. This will be equal to 1/160th of your final pay, multiplied by the total membership you built up from 6th April 1988 up to the date of leaving active membership.
Left after 01/04/2008
Widow’s pension
Following your death, your widow will receive a pension for life equal to 1/160th of your final pay, multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving.
If the marriage occurred after leaving active membership, only your post 5th April 1978 membership will be used.
Widower’s pension
Following your death, your widower will receive a pension for life equal to 1/160th of your final pay, multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving.
If the marriage occurred after leaving active membership, only your post 5th April 1988 membership will be used.
Civil Partner or nominated co-habiting partner pension
Following your death, your civil partner or nominated co-habiting partner will receive a pension for life equal to 1/160th of your final pay, multiplied by the total membership you built up from 6th April 1988 up to the date of leaving.
Children's Pension
Left before 01/04/2008
The definition of an eligible child is different for pensioners whose pension or deferred pension began before 6th April 2006 as compared to those whose pension or deferred pension began between 6th April 2006 and 31st March 2008.
If the pension began before 6th April 2006, eligible children include your legitimate, adopted or dependent children who are:
- children who are under age 17, or
- since before age 17, have been in full time education or training for a trade, profession or vocation
- dependant by reason of incapacity
If the pension began between 6th April 2006 and 31st March 2008, eligible children include your legitimate, adopted or dependent children who are:
- Under age 17, or
- Under age 23 and since before age 17, have been in full time education or in training for a trade, profession or vocation, or
- Dependent by reason of incapacity which arose whilst a child within the definition of (1) or (2) above
In all cases, the children must have been born within 12 months of your death.
The amount of children’s pension payable depends on the number of eligible children you have and whether or not a spouse/civil partner’s pension is also payable.
Children’s pension due if survivor’s pension is to be paid:
1 child: The pension would amount to 1/320th of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving.
2 or more children: They would receive an annual pension of 1/160th of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving. This will be divided equally between each child.
Children’s pension due if no survivor’s pension is to be paid:
Following your death, your children will receive a short-term pension equal to the pension you were receiving prior to death for a period of 6 months. This will be divided equally between your eligible children.
Once the short-term pension ceases, a long-term pension will be payable, as follows:
1 child: The pension would amount to 1/240th of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving.
2 or more children: They would receive an annual pension of 1/120th of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving. This will be divided equally between each child.
Left after 01/04/2008
Eligible children are:
- Under age 18 and wholly or mainly dependant on you, or
- Aged 18 or over and under 23, be dependent on you and be in full time education or undertaking vocational training (although a dependent child who commences full time education or vocational training after the date of your death may be treated as an eligible child up to age 23), or
- In some cases, a dependent child of any age who is disabled may be classed as an eligible child
In all cases, the children must have been born within a year of your death.
The amount of children’s pension payable depends on the number of eligible children you have and whether or not a survivor’s pension is to be paid to your spouse, civil partner or nominated co-habiting partner.
Children’s pension due if survivor’s pension is to be paid:
1 child: The pension would amount to 1/320th of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to date of retirement.
2 or more children: They would receive an annual pension of 1/160th of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving. This will be divided equally between each child.
Children’s pension due if no survivor’s pension is to be paid:
1 child: The pension would amount to 1/240th of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving.
2 or more children: They would receive an annual pension of 1/120th of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to date of leaving. This will be divided equally between each child.