Death in service

If a member dies in service, certain benefits may be paid to their dependants:

• A lump sum Death Grant
• A pension payable to a legally married spouse (husband or wife), a cohabiting partner (same or opposite sex) or registered civil partner
• Pensions for dependent children

If a member of your staff dies in service please contact the pensions team as soon as possible with next of kin information. We will also require completion of the LGS15C Leaving notification confirming the Assumed Pensionable Pay figure at date of death (see below for more information on Assumed Pensionable Pay).

Death Grant

The amount of lump sum payable is equal to three times the member's Assumed Pensionable Pay (APP) no matter how long they have been a member of the Scheme.

Assumed Pensionable Pay (APP) is used in the calculation of the death grant and survivors benefits payable in the event of your death in service. For the purposes of these calculations the Assumed Pensionable Pay is:

The total of last 3 months normal pensionable pay (prior to date of death) ÷ 3 X 12

Members can choose who they would like to receive any death grant payable by completing an 'Expression of Wish form'.

Spouse's Pension

If a member dies in service and leaves a husband or wife, he or she, will become entitled to part of their pension. Local Government long-term dependent spouse's pensions no longer cease upon re-marriage to another person.

Long-term Widow's Pension

If a member dies before their wife a long-term widow's pension is payable equal to 1/160th of the Assumed Pensionable Pay for each year or fraction of a year uprated to the value the member would have become entitled to had they remained a member of the scheme to their Normal Pension Age (NPA).

The widow's long-term pension is fully inflation-proofed and payable for life.

Long-term Widower's Pension

If a member dies before their husband a long-term widower's pension is payable equal to 1/160th of their Assumed Pensionable Pay for each year or fraction of a year built up since 1 April 1972 plus their prospective membership to Normal Pension Age (NPA).

The widower's long-term pension is fully inflation-proofed and payable for life.

Children's Pension

Children's pensions are payable as long as eligible children remain following the death of a member. To be eligible a child must be a natural or adopted child, a step-child or a child accepted by the deceased as a member of the family. They would also need to meet the following additional criteria:

• Aged under 18
• Aged 18 or over but under 23 and have been in full-time education or training since before the age of 18
• Dependent upon the member by reason of incapacity since before the age of 18
• Born within 12 months from the date of the member's death.

Children's Long-term Pension

If there is a pension payable to a legally married spouse, cohabiting partner or civil partner, the following children's pensions will be payable:

One eligible child will receive 1/320th of the Assumed Pensionable Pay for each year and part-year used in the calculation of the member's pension benefits (including the enhancement to your NPA). Two or more eligible children will receive 1/160th of the Assumed Pensionable Pay for each year and part-year used in the calculation of the member's pension benefits (including the enhancement to your NPA) divided equally between them.

If there is no pension payable to a legally married spouse, cohabiting partner or civil partner, all references made above to 1/320th should be replaced with 1/240th and all references to 1/160th should be replaced with 1/120th.

Children's pensions are fully inflation-proofed.

Civil Partner's Pension

Long-term Civil Partner's Pension

If a member dies before their civil partner he or she will become entitled to a long-term civil partner's pension equal to 1/160th of the Assumed Pensionable Pay for each year and part-year of pension membership built up since 6 April 1988 plus prospective membership to age 65. The civil partner's long-term pension is fully inflation proofed and payable for life.

Further information regarding Civil Partners pension benefits can be viewed by downloading our factsheet 'Civil Partnerships and Your Pension'.

Co-habiting Partner's Pensions

If a member dies and leaves a co-habiting partner or civil partner, he or she, will become entitled to part of your pension. Local Government long-term dependent nominated cohabiting partner's and civil partner's pensions no longer cease upon cohabitation with another person.

Long-term Co-habiting Partner's Pension

Providing the member has contributed to the LGPS at some point since 1 April 2008 their co-habiting partner may be eligible to receive any survivor's pension that may become payable in the event of the member's death. For a co-habiting partnership to be valid both the member and their partner must satisfy the following conditions at date of death:

• co-habitation had been continuous for at least 2 years at the date of death
• both co-habitees are free to marry or enter into a civil partnership at any time
• both are living together as if husband and wife or civil partners
• neither co-habitee is living with a third person as if husband or wife or civil partners
• The member's co-habiting partner is financially dependent upon them or they are both financially inter-dependent upon each other.

The co-habiting partner's long-term pension is fully inflation proofed and payable for life.

If you would like to find out more about cohabiting partner's pensions please follow the link to our Co-habiting Partner's Pension factsheet.

Reporting the death of a scheme member

To report the death of a scheme member please contact the pensions team directly on 01628 796 668.

Alternatively you can contact us by email info@berkshirepensions.org.uk 

When contacting us we will require the following information:

• Name of member
• Date of death
• National Insurance number
• Next of kin details

We will also require completion of the LGS15C leaver notification in order to calculate the ongoing benefits that may be payable to the member's next of kin/estate.