If you die before taking your pension
If you die before taking your pension, it 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:
The amount payable will depend on whether you were still contributing to the Scheme, or had stopped, at the time of your death as they are calculated differently.
A cash lump sum Show Hide
A one-off cash lump sum is payable when you die. The Trustee has discretion to decide who this is paid to. You can help guide the Trustee’s decision by completing an Expression of Wish form. We recommend reviewing this frequently to ensure your wishes are kept up to date, especially if your circumstances change.
You can name more than one person or an organisation, and you can decide how the amount is split between them.
Please note that from April 2027, changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) may affect how cash lump sums are taxed if you no longer pay into the Scheme.
A dependant’s pension Show Hide
A 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. You can find out what your loved ones may be entitled to below.
Spouse, civil partner, or qualifying partner
If you have a spouse or a civil partner they will automatically receive a monthly pension following your death.
If you have a qualifying partner, they will receive the same as a spouse or civil partner, however, your partner must be nominated to the Trustee in writing by completing a Nomination Form.
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.
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
Please note, if your partner remarries or sets up home with someone new, the Trustee may cease payment of the pension.
A child’s allowance Show Hide
A child’s allowance is automatically paid to dependent children up to the age of 17, or 23 if in full-time education or vocational training.
How we calculate your death benefits
Currently paying in
If you are currently an Active Member and contributing towards your MRC pension, your loved ones would receive:
A death in service lump sum
This would equate to four times your pensionable salary at the time of your death.
A spouse, partner, or dependant’s pension
The amount payable depends on who is in receipt of the dependant’s pension. If you have a:
-
Spouse, civil partner or qualifying partner
Your spouse, civil partner, or qualifying partner would receive a pension, and the amount payable would be:
- For the first three months, they will receive payments equal to your monthly pensionable salary.
- After that period, they will receive a pension equal to 50% of the pension you would have built up by your Normal Pension Age, capped at 40 years’ service.
- If your spouse, civil or qualifying partner is more than 10 years younger than you, this pension may be reduced.
-
An Adult Dependent
If a pension is not payable to a spouse, civil partner, or qualifying partner but someone else depended on you financially, the Trustee may grant them an adult dependant’s pension. The amount payable is considered by the Trustee at the time of your death and could be up to the same amount as a spouse or partner’s pension, however, this is not guaranteed.
A child’s allowance
After the first three months, your eligible child or children may receive a pension called a child’s allowance
- If you have one child and they are in the care of a surviving parent, they will receive 25% of the pension you would have built up by your Normal Pension Age. If they’re not in the care of a surviving parent, the allowance increases to 33%.
- If you have two or more children and they are in the care of a surviving parent, they will share 50% of the pension you would have built up by your Normal Pension Age, between them. If they’re not in the care of a surviving parent, the allowance increases to 66%, shared equally.
No longer paying in
If you are currently a Deferred Member and no longer contributing towards your MRC pension, your loved ones would receive:
Cash lump sum
This would equate to five times your annual pension (increased by inflation since leaving service) at the time of your death.
A spouse, civil partner or qualifying partner pension
If you have a spouse, civil partner, or qualifying partner, they would receive a pension, and the amount payable would be 50% of the pension you have built up, increased by inflation since leaving service.
A child’s allowance
Your eligible child or children may receive a monthly pension called a child’s allowance.
- If you have one child and they are in the care of a surviving parent, they will receive 25% of the pension you have built up, increased by inflation since leaving service. If they’re not in the care of a surviving parent, the allowance increases to 33%.
- If you have two or more children and they are in the care of a surviving parent, they will share 50% of the pension you you have built up, increased by inflation since leaving service, between them. If they’re not in the care of a surviving parent, the allowance increases to 66%, shared equally.
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
If you are not married or in a civil partnership, your partner may still qualify for a pension at the time of your death if all 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
You must inform the Trustee of a qualifying partner by completing a Nomination Form.
Who qualifies as an adult dependent? Show Hide
An adult dependant is someone who relied on you financially, either fully or partly, at the time of your death. They do not have to be a relative.
If there’s an adult who is financially dependent on you, either fully or partly, you should notify the Trustee in writing. You can do so by contacting the administrator.
