If you die after taking your pension
If you die after your pension has started, your legacy will continue to support those closest to you and is designed to offer stability and reassurance at a difficult time.
Supporting those who matter most
Following your death, your loved ones could receive:
*A cash lump sum is only payable if you die within 5 years of taking your pension.
A cash lump sum* Show Hide
If you die within 5 years of taking your pension, a one-off cash lump sum is payable. The Trustee have discretion to decide the beneficiaries. The amount payable is the balance of any pension that would have been paid had you survived those five years, minus the pension and cash lump sum already paid to you before death.
You can help the Trustee’s decide who to pay this to by completing an Expression of Wish form. We recommend reviewing this frequently to ensure your wishes are up to date, especially if your circumstances change.
Who can receive the tax-free lump sum?
The tax-free lump sum may be paid to one or more people chosen by the Trustees. They will take into account your Expression of Wish form, personal circumstances and any dependants or family.
Keeping your form up to date helps ensure your wishes are considered.
A dependant’s pension Show Hide
A dependant’s pension is a regular monthly payment paid to someone who relied on you financially when you died. This could include your spouse, partner, or someone else who depended on your income, or with whom you shared finances.
Who qualifies, and how much is paid, will depend on your individual circumstances.
Spouse, civil partner, or qualifying partner
If you have a spouse or a civil partner they will automatically receive a monthly pension equal to 50% of your pension following your death.
If you have a qualifying partner, they will receive the same as a spouse or civil partner.
Please note, if your partner remarries or sets up home with someone new, the pension will no longer be paid.
Adult Dependants
If you do not have a spouse, civil partner, or qualifying partner, another adult who depends on you financially may be able to receive a dependant’s pension.
This payment is decided by the Trustees and may be up to the same amount as a spouse’s pension. You can help the Trustees by naming an adult dependant on a Nomination Form.
To receive this benefit:
- You must not have a spouse, civil partner, or qualifying partner
- The person must have been financially dependent on you, either fully or partly, at the time of your death
A child’s allowance Show Hide
A child’s allowance is automatically paid to dependant children up to the age of 17, or 23 if in full-time education or vocational training.
Protecting your loved ones
You can help ensure your benefits go to the right people by keeping your forms up to date. By doing this, the Trustee can understand your wishes clearly.
To find out how to update or nominate your beneficiaries, visit Updating your beneficiaries.
FAQs
What is a qualifying partner? Show Hide
f you are not married or in a civil partnership, your partner may still automatically qualify for a spouse’s pension at the time of your death if all of the following apply:
They must:
- Have been nominated by you to the Trustees in writing
- Live with you and share financial responsibilities, or depend on you financially
- Be in a committed, exclusive, long-term relationship with you
- Intend the relationship to continue indefinitely
- Be mutually responsible for each other’s welfare
- Not be closely related in a way that would prevent marriage
- Not be married to, or in a civil partnership with, anyone else
- Not be nominated as another person’s partner
- Have been in the relationship for at least two years at the time of death
Who qualifies as an adult dependent? Show Hide
Someone who relied on you financially, either fully or partly, at the time of your death. They do not have to be a relative.
Report a death Show Hide
If you need to report a death, please contact the Scheme Administrator as soon as possible so they can guide you through the next steps.
