Death Benefits
Death Benefits
If you die while you are still working and paying into the pension scheme, there are a number of benefits that are payable to your loved ones. The Fund should be notified as soon as possible of a member's death. The sooner we are told, the quicker we can establish what death benefits are due and put them into payment.
Notify us of a Bereavement
To notify the Fund of a bereavement, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Our contact details can be found here.
Please try to provide as much information as possible including the member's name, date of birth, National Insurance number and next of kin details.
Once notified we will write out and confirm what benefits are payable and whether certificates may be required e.g. marriage certificates. Any certificates provided will be returned promptly and will be treated as confidential while in our custody. Photocopies of certificates will be accepted and only returned if requested.
If you record a death through the Tell Us Once system we will also be notified through this service.
Financial Support for Loved Ones
If you die while you are still working and paying into the pension scheme, there are a number of benefits that are payable to your loved ones.
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Death Grant
A tax free lump sum worth 3 times your pay will be paid upon your death. You can tell us who you would like to receive this grant by updating your death grant nominations via My Pension+ or by completing an Expression of Wish form. The Fund does not have to follow your wishes but we will do so wherever we can. Information on how the death grant is paid out and to whom can be found in the Death Grant Hierarchy.
Be aware that if you have a deferred or pensioner record elsewhere in the Local Government Pension Scheme, that in the event of your death only one death grant will be paid; either a death in service lump sum or deferred/pensioner lump sum, whichever is greater.
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Survivor's Pension
A survivor's pension is payable to your:
• Husband/Wife, or
• Civil Partner, or
• *Eligible Cohabiting partnerThis is an annual pension paid to them every year until they die. How much a survivor's pension is depends on when you were a member of the scheme and for how long. You can view the value of your survivor's pension via My Pension+.
*For a cohabiting partner to be eligible for a partner pension, you must be free to marry or enter into a civil partnership with your cohabiting partner, and the following conditions must be met for a continuous period of at least 2 years at the date of death:
• You and your cohabiting partner have been living together as if you were husband/wife or civil partners
• Neither of you have been living with someone else as though you/they were husband/wife or civil partners
• Either your cohabiting partner is financially dependent on you, or you have been financially interdependent on each other.You can tell us of a cohabiting partner by completing the Notification of Cohabiting Partner form.
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Children's Pension
A pension is also payable to eligible children as long as they meet one of the following:
• They are under age 18, or
• They are aged 18 or over and under 23 and in full-time education or training, or
• They are unable to gain employment because of physical or mental impairment and are either under age 23 or permanently dependent on you.A pension is only payable as long as they meet the above criteria. For example, if they leave full time education at 21, their pension would stop.
Eligible children include:
• natural or adopted children
• step children
• children accepted by the deceased as a member of the family and were dependent on the member at the date of death.You can view the value of a children's pension on My Pension+.
Want more detail?
Login to My Pension+ where you'll be able to see how the value of your death grant, survivor's pension and children's pension. You can also update your death grant nominations.
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