If you need to tell us about a member’s death, visit the Report a death page. Once we are notified we’ll start the process of paying any death benefits.
We’ve included the steps of the process below.
You can nominate who you wish to receive the tax-free lump sum death benefit by quickly and easily updating your nomination details online via Pension self-service.
If you’re not married, you can nominate someone who is financially dependent or interdependent on you to receive the dependant’s pension. This can be done quickly and easily online.
In both cases, this will update your records immediately. You can log in and review or change your nominations at any time.
If you’re unable to use Pension self-service, you can download and complete both death nomination forms from the Forms page.
Any death benefits payable may be subject to tax restrictions.
Lump sum
If you die before you start receiving your deferred pension from the Scheme, the Trustees will pay a lump sum death benefit to your beneficiaries.
The lump sum amount would be the greater of:
- five times your annual deferred pension; or
- a refund of your own contributions plus interest.
Dependant’s pension
This is automatically paid to your spouse or civil partner if you die, even if you haven’t started taking your pension yet.
The amount is shown on your Deferred Pension Details Form, which you received when you left the Scheme.
If you’re not married or in a civil partnership, and you left the Scheme on or after 1 October 1987, you can nominate:
- a partner
- an aged parent
- a disabled child who can’t support themselves financially.
Child benefits
Any children under the age of 18 who were born on or before you left the Scheme would be entitled to benefits in the event of your death.
If both parents have died and a dependant’s pension isn’t payable, an additional amount would be payable.