Survivor benefits
If you die whilst an active member paying into the Scheme, the Scheme makes sure that your survivors are supported.
Depending on your circumstances the Scheme can provide:
The benefits are based on your final pay and, where appropriate, the membership and pension you would have built up to your normal pension age.
Lump sum death payment
A lump sum death payment of three times your pay is payable.
You can tell us who you would like the lump sum death payment paid to by using the Nomination of beneficiary for death payment form (see Related Documents in the "Helpful Information" section).
Survivor's pension
When you die, we may be able to pay a pension to your husband/wife or your civil partner or your cohabiting partner and your dependent children.
Amount of survivor's pension if you die in service:
If you would like benefits to be paid to a cohabiting partner they will need to meet certain criteria. See who will get my benefits for more information.
Calculating the amount of survivor's pension
For your husband or wife, civil partner or cohabiting partner
1/160th of your pensionable pay multiplied by the total membership you would have built up to your Normal Pension Age.
Note
Only your membership from 6 April 1988 is used for cohabiting partners, although you do have the option to pay additional survivor benefit contributions (ASBCs) to extend this cover to include earlier periods of membership in the Scheme.
For your dependent children
Pension for one child, where a pension is also being paid to your husband, wife, civil partner or cohabiting partner
1/320 of your pensionable pay multiplied by the total membership you would have built up to your Normal Pension Age
Pension for one child, where no pension is being paid to your husband, wife, civil partner or cohabiting partner
1/240 of your pensionable pay multiplied by the total membership you would have built up to your Normal Pension Age
Pension for 2 or more children, where a pension is also being paid to your husband, wife, civil partner or cohabiting partner
1/160 of your pensionable pay multiplied by the total membership you would have built up to your Normal Pension Age
Pension for 2 or more children, where no pension is being paid to your husband, wife, civil partner or nominated cohabiting partner
1/120 of your pensionable pay multiplied by the total membership you would have built up to your Normal Pension Age
Important
Your membership is based on your membership at the date of your death plus what you would have built up to normal pension age, if you had survived and stayed in the scheme until then.
If there is more than one dependent child they share the pension equally.
Who will get my benefits?
Lump sum death payment
We make the final decision on whom to pay the lump sum to. We will normally pay this to who you have asked us to.
You can let us know your wishes by filling in a nomination of beneficiary for death payment form (see Related Documents in the "Helpful Information" section).
Survivor's pensions
Survivor's pensions are payable to your husband/wife or your civil partner or cohabiting partner.
If you would like benefits to be paid to a cohabiting partner they will need to meet certain criteria, as follows:
- You and your co-habiting partner were free to marry each other or to enter into a civil partnership, and
- You and your co-habiting partner have been living together as if you were husband and wife, or civil partners, and
- neither you or your co-habiting partner have been living with someone else as if you were husband and wife or civil partners, and
- either your co-habiting partner is financially dependent on you or you are financially interdependent on each other.
All of the above must be met for a continuous period of at least 2 years prior to your death.
Children's pensions are payable to any eligible dependent children you may have when you die or born up to one year after.
Please contact us if you want to know more.