What benefits are payable following the death of a Pensioner?

On death in retirement or ill-health retirement, a lump sum may be payable depending on the following circumstances:

On death in retirement

If no pension is payable to an adult dependant, legal spouse, civil partner or eligible child, the lump sum amount would be the lesser of five times the deceased’s full pension at retirement or four times their pensionable salary. In either case, any lump sum and pension already received would be deducted

If a pension is payable to an adult dependant, legal spouse, civil partner or eligible child, the lump sum amount would be equal to 3/80 multiplied by pensionable service multiplied by pensionable salary at the date that the deceased left service, less any lump sum and pension already received

On death in ill-health retirement

If the deceased retired from service on an ill-health pension after more than five years’ pensionable service, their ill-health pension is still in payment on death and they die before age 65, the lump sum amount will be four times their pensionable salary at the date they left work. Any lump sum and pension already received would be deducted

If the deceased retired from service on an ill-health pension and had between two and five years’ pensionable service, their ill-health pension is still in payment on death and they die within five years of retirement and before reaching age 65, the amount payable will be four times their pensionable salary at retirement. Any lump sum and pension already received would be deducted.

Additional Voluntary Contributions

If the deceased has not already claimed any Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) that they may have paid, the value of their accrued AVCs will also be payable as a lump sum.

Adult Dependants and Eligible Children

If the deceased had at least 2 years Fund membership, an adult dependant can receive a pension of one-half of their full pension at retirement, regardless of any lump sum or variable pension that they may have already received, plus pension increases up to the date of death.

If the deceased has a legal spouse or civil partner who is not their adult dependant, they may be entitled to receive a pension in respect of any period of contracted out employment. In this case any adult dependant’s pension will be reduced by the amount payable to your legal spouse or civil partner.

If the deceased had at least 2 years Fund membership, an eligible child (a child under the age of 18 or under the age of 23 for children continuing in full time education) can receive a pension of up to 25 percent of the deceased’s full pension at retirement, regardless of any lump sum or variable pension that they may have chosen, plus pension increases up to the date of death.