Death Grant
A death grant may be payable when you die, depending on when you left the LGPS and how long you have been receiving your pension.
Select the relevant period below to see how the death grant is calculated.
If you left before 01/04/2008
If you had been receiving your pension for less than 5 years at the date of your death, a death grant equal to 5 times your annual pension, less the total pension already paid, will be payable.
We will have final discretion over who receives the lump sum, but we will always take your wishes into account.
If no beneficiary has been nominated, the death grant lump sum will be paid to your estate or your known spouse.
If there is no spouse or civil partner, probate or letters of administration will be required before the death grant can be paid.
If you left between 01/04/2008 and 31 March 2014
If you had been receiving your pension for less than 10 years at the date of your death, a death grant equal to 10 times your annual pension, less the total pension already paid, will be payable.
We will have final discretion over who receives the lump sum, but we will always take your wishes into account.
If no beneficiary has been nominated, the death grant lump sum will be paid to your estate or your known spouse, civil partner or nominated cohabiting partner.
If there is no spouse or civil partner, probate or letters of administration will be required before the death grant can be paid.
If you left on or after 1 April 2014
The death grant payable will equal 10 times the value of your annual pension, less the pension already paid to you and any lump sum taken by giving up part of your CARE pension.
If you are also an active member when you die, the death grant payable will be the higher of:
- The amount calculated above; or
- Three times your Assumed Pensionable Pay in your active employment.
If you die on or after age 75, a lump sum cannot be paid.
Survivors' Pensions
A long-term pension may be payable to a spouse, civil partner or eligible cohabiting partner following your death.
The rules and calculations depend on when you left the LGPS.
If you left before 01/04/2008
Survivor's pension for a widow, widower or civil partner:
Following your death, your survivor will receive a short-term pension equal to the pension you were receiving before your death for a period of 3 months, or for 6 months if an eligible child is in your survivor's care.
Once the short-term pension ends, a long-term pension will become payable. The survivor's pension will equal 1/160 of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to the date you left.
If you married or entered into the civil partnership after your active membership ended, only your membership after 5 April 1978 will be used.
If you left after 01/04/2008
Survivor's pension for a widow, widower or civil partner:
Following your death, your survivor will receive a pension equal to 1/160 of your final pay multiplied by your total membership up to the date you left.
If you married or entered into the civil partnership after your active membership ended, only your membership after 5 April 1978 will be used.
Survivor's pension for a cohabiting partner:
Following your death, your eligible cohabiting partner will receive a pension equal to 1/160 of your final pay multiplied by the total membership you built up from 6 April 1988 to the date you left.
Who is an eligible cohabiting partner?
Your partner may be able to receive a survivor's pension if:
- You lived together as a couple for at least 2 years before your death.
- You were both free to marry or enter into a civil partnership.
- Neither of you was living as a couple with someone else.
- You were financially connected, either because:
- your partner depended on your income; or
- you shared your finances and were financially dependent on each other.
Your partner will need to provide evidence that these conditions were met for the 2 years immediately before your death.
You do not need to formally nominate your cohabiting partner.
However, it is a good idea to provide your partner's details to Gwynedd Pension Fund in advance.
Children's Pension
In addition to spouse or partner benefits, a pension may be payable to eligible children. Eligible children are those who:
- Are under age 18 and wholly or mainly dependent on you; or
- Are age 18 or over but under age 21, dependent on you and in full-time education or undertaking vocational training (although a dependent child who starts full-time education or vocational training after the date of your death may be treated as an eligible child until age 23); or
- In certain circumstances, are dependent children of any age with a disability.
- In all cases, the children must have been born within one year of your death.
The amount of pension payable depends on the rules that were in force when you left the scheme and whether a spouse's or eligible partner's pension is payable.
The total children's pension payable depends on the number of eligible children you have and whether a survivor's pension is also payable to your spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner.