Death Benefits

If you die while still in service, the LGPS provides the following benefits:

Death Grant Lump Sum

From the very first day you join the pension scheme, a death grant lump sum of 2 times your career average pay is payable if you die whilst in service, and under age 75. 

Each member of the scheme should complete a death grant expression of wish form.  This allows you to propose one or more individuals or institution to receive the relevant death grant payment, which in some instances may possibly mean that inheritance tax payments could be avoided.  Contact us for a death grant expression of wish form or click here to download a copy.

We will have the final discretion as to whom the lump sum will be paid, but we will always take your wishes into consideration.

Each new form that we receive will take the place of the previous if you decide to change your beneficiary.

In the absence of an expression of wish form, the death grant lump sum will be paid to your estate or to a known spouse.

Survivor's Pension

If you die leaving a surviving spouse or civil partner, they will become entitled to a survivor’s pension. It will increase each year in line with the cost of living.

Short Term Pension

A short term survivor’s pension will be equal to the rate of your career average pay. This will be payable for 3 months, or 6 months if the survivor has eligible children in their care.

Long Term Pension

If you have at least 3 months membership, a long term survivor’s pension will be payable for life when the short term pension comes to an end. This will be equal to half the pension you would have received had you retired early on the grounds of ill health on the date of death.  

Pension for Eligible Children

In addition to the survivor benefits, the scheme also provides pension benefits for eligible children.  To be eligible, the child must be your legitimate, adopted or dependent child, and be:

  • Under the age of 18.
  • Between age of 18 to 23 and in full time education.
  • Wholly or mainly dependent on you.
  • Born before or within 12 months of your death.
  • Benefits for disabled children may be paid indefinintely.

The amount of children’s pension payable depends on the number of eligible children you have and whether or not a survivor’s pension is to be paid to your spouse or civil partner.  In all cases, the pension will be a proportion of your notional pension.

Your notional pension is your career average pay multiplied by your total membership up to date of death plus:

  • an extra 10 years membership, or, if greater,
  • the membership awarded as if you had retired on the grounds of ill health on the date of death. 

In either case the increase in membership cannot exceed the potential membership you could have accrued from date of death to age 65.     

Children’s pension due if survivors pension is to be paid.

If the children are not in the care of the survivor, they will be entitled to a short term pension equal to the rate of your career average pay for a period of 3 months. This will be divided equally between each child. 

When the survivor’s or child’s short term pension ends, the following children’s pension will become payable:

1 child: ¼ of your notional pension.  

2 or more children: ½ of your notional pension. 

This will be divided equally between each child.

Children’s Pension due if no survivors pension is to be paid. 

A short term children’s pension will be payable for 6 months, equal to the rate of your career average pay. This will be divided equally between each child.  When the short term pension comes to an end, the following long term pension will become payable: 

1 child: ⅓ of your notional pension.      

2 or more children:  ⅔ of your notional pension. 

This will be divided equally between each child.