Benefits

When you die

Your family might be eligible to be paid some benefits if you die while being paid a pension from the Scheme.

These benefits are:

  1. a pension for a spouse or civil partner
  2. a pension for a dependant, if you do not have a spouse or civil partner
  3. a pension for your children
  4. a cash lump sum for a spouse, civil partner or dependant (if you die within 5 years of retiring)

The Trustee decides how some of these benefits are paid. They will consider your preference and your circumstances when they make their decision.

Tell the Trustee your preference by completing an expression of wish form.

Log in to complete an expression of wish form

Last updated: 28/10/2024

1. A pension for your spouse or civil partner

If your spouse or civil partner was living with you when you died, they can receive a monthly pension for the rest of their life.

They’ll get a monthly pension equal to 50% of the pension you were receiving when you died. On top of this, we’ll add 50% of any pension you might have exchanged for cash when you retired.

We’ll reduce this pension if they are more than 10 years younger than you. The reduction is 2% for each full year over 10 years. That means they’ll get a reduction of 2% if they’re 11 years younger than you, or 4% if they’re 12 years younger, and so on.

Read about how this pension increases

2. A pension for a dependant, if you do not have a spouse or civil partner

If you do not have a spouse or civil partner, the Trustee can choose to pay a pension to someone who was financially dependent on you on the day you died.

This dependant does not need to live with you.

The pension they’ll get is the same as a pension for a spouse or civil partner, except that it will not be reduced if they are more than 10 years younger than you.

Read about how this pension increases

3. A pension for your children

Up to 3 of your children can get a pension until they’re age 18, or until age 23 if they stay in full-time education.

If they have a disability, they could receive a pension beyond this age.

Tell us if you have a child with a disability

If a pension is being paid to a spouse, civil partner, or dependant
Each child gets a pension worth one third of that pension.

If you do not have a surviving spouse, civil partner, or dependant
Each child gets a pension worth two thirds of the pension that would have been paid to a spouse, civil partner, or a dependant.

A spouse or civil partner pension is reduced if they are more than 10 years younger than you. When calculating a child’s pension, this reduction does not apply.

Read about how this pension increases

4. A cash lump sum

If you die within 5 years of retiring, a cash lump sum can be paid.

This lump sum is the total amount of pension you would have received if you had lived for 5 years from the date you retired. This will not include any increases that this pension would have received had it been increased after you died.

The Trustee of the Scheme decide who this lump sum is paid to. They usually pay it to your family, but they will consider your preference and your circumstances when they make their decision.

Tell the Trustee your preference by completing an expression of wish form.

Log in to complete an expression of wish form

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