Pensions and bereavement
Helping you through the process
When dealing with the death of a loved one, whether a spouse, partner, family member or close friend, sorting out their pension is one of the many things you have to think about.
This page will help you understand the bereavement process for a Member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), Police or Firefighters pension scheme, and what you need to do step by step. We’ll explain each stage of the process, what forms you need to complete, and what pension benefits you might be entitled to.
You can also download a copy of our Bereavement booklet, which provides helpful information for you to keep and read in your own time.
How to let us know
If you need to let us know about the death of a pension scheme Member now, you can take the first steps in doing so by completing our simple online Bereavement Notification form. To access the form, just click the on button below.
We’re here to help
We understand dealing with the loss of a loved one can be difficult, so, please remember, we’re to help. If you need further support to help guide you through the pension and bereavement process, please don’t hesitate to contact our dedicated Helpdesk. To reach our helpful team, please call 0300 323 0260.
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us here, by filling in our simple contact form, or you can write to us at one of the addresses below:
| Lancashire Members | Cumbria Members | Hertfordshire Members | London Pensions Fund Authority, Newham, Ealing, Havering, Brent & Bexley Members |
| LPPA PO Box 1381 Preston PR2 0WP | LPPA PO Box 1382 Preston PR2 0WQ | LPPA PO Box 1384 Preston PR2 0WS | LPPA PO Box 1383 Preston PR2 0WR |
Understanding the process
What should I do first?
Before you start worrying about forms and paperwork, the first thing to do is get in touch. This will give us a chance to explain the process and advise you on what to do next.
What should you do first?
Notify us as soon as possible
If a member of a pension scheme has died, you can notify us by telephone, email or in writing. Contact information can be found on this page.
Alternatively, you can contact us via the online portal that will be provided when registering the death.
Please be sure to include the following information:
- Your full name
- Member details: full name, National insurance number, address and date of death
- Next of kin / executor / personal representative details: name, address, email, telephone number
We will send out the appropriate forms
Once we have been notified, we will contact all of the relevant parties and forward on the necessary forms. We will also explain the benefits available and, if needed, request any additional information.
All completed forms must be signed, witnessed (if applicable) and returned to our address, which can be found here.
We will arrange for any eligible payments
Once we have the completed paperwork, we will arrange for any eligible pension benefits to be paid either as a cash lump sum or as an ongoing payment.
- The first payment will typically be made on the next available payroll run
- Any overpayments are usually recovered from the first payment
Understanding the documents
What forms will I need to fill in?
If we need you to complete any forms or send us additional information, we will contact you directly by letter or email. Here’s a list of the documents we sometimes require.
The forms you need to fill in
Death Certificate/Tell Us Once (TUO) notification
If the member was in the Police or Fire scheme, you must have a death certificate to verify their date of death.
Final Payment
Form of Indemnity
Probate (if obtained or if the amount is over £5000)
Pension
Spouse Pension/ Civil Partnership Pension
- Spouse pension application form
- Spouses’ birth certificate or current passport*
- Marriage certificate/ certification of partnership
Cohabiting Partner Pension
- Cohabiting Partner application form
- Supporting documentation as specified on the form
- Cohabiting Partners’ Birth Certificate*
Children’s Pension
- Dependant application form
- Dependants Full Birth Certificate*
- Education Certification may be required
- Supporting information may be required
* Clear copy accepted
Death Grant
- Death grant nomination form
- Birth Certificate*
- Probate and Will may be required
- Late payment form may be required**
** Clear copy is accepted
** Death grant is paid tax free provided it is within two years of death notification received by LPPA. If payment made after 2 years date, death grant payment will be subject to tax. Late payment form may be required.
Understanding the benefits
What am I entitled to?
Depending on your relationship to the scheme Member, you or a family member may be entitled to certain pension benefits – either as a lump sum or a monthly payment.
Death grant
A cash lump sum
Some pensions include a cash lump sum benefit, which is paid to a nominated person or next of kin in the event of the Member’s death. There are three different types of death grant:
Three types of death grant
Death in Service
When a Member dies in service, a cash lump sum equal to three times their basic salary is paid (for Police and Fire schemes, this is two times their basic salary, although it is dependent on which scheme they were a member of). This applies to all Members under the age of 75, regardless of how long they have been part of the scheme.
Death in Deferred (only relevant for LGPS pension schemes)
If the Member had stopped paying into the LGPS scheme, but wasn’t yet receiving their pension, a cash lump sum, equal to five times of the amount of deferred annual pension or the amount of the retirement grant, depending on the date of leaving active employment.
Death in Pension
If the Member was already receiving a pension in payment, the death grant payable depends on when the Member left the active service (and for Police and Fire schemes, the scheme they were a member of).
(Only relevant for LGPS pension schemes)
Before 1st April 2008: if the Member left, the death grant payable is 5 times the amount of the annual pension, less the amount already received.
On or after 1st April 2008: the death grant payable is 10 times the amount of the annual pension less the amount already received.
Dependent pension
A regular monthly income
Most pensions include a regular monthly income, which can be transferred to a spouse, partner or child in the event of the Member’s death – depending on certain qualifying conditions.
Widows / Civil Partners pension
You will be eligible for a widow’s pension (however, for LGPS pensions, this is only if your husband (or civil partner) retired or left employment after 1 April 1972, or after 6 April 1978 if you were not married at the time).
Widowers / Civil Partners pension
You will be eligible for a widower’s pension if your wife (or civil partner) retired of left employment after 6 April 1988 (for Police pensions, the date is 16 May 1990)
Cohabiting Partner Pension
(Note this is only applicable for LGPS schemes – for Police and Fire schemes, please contact us through our various channels)
To be eligible for a cohabiting partner pension, your partner must have been an active Member of the LGPS 2006 or 2015 scheme on or after 1 April 2008. Also, you must have been living together at the date of death and met ALL the following conditions for a continuous period of at least 2 years:
(Note this is only applicable for LGPS schemes – for Police and Fire schemes, please contact us through our various channels)
Conditions
Are, and have been, free to marry each other or enter a civil partnership with each other, and
Have been living together as if they were a married couple, or civil partners, and
Neither of them has been living with someone else as if they were a married couple or civil partners, and
Either the co-habiting partner is, and has been, financially dependent on the Pension Scheme Member or the two people are and have been financially interdependent.
Financially dependent means that you have a lower income than your partner. Financially interdependent means that you rely on each other’s’ finances to maintain your standard of living. It does not mean that you have to be contributing equally. For example, if one partner’s income is a lot higher, he or she may pay the mortgage and most of the bills, while the other partner pays for the weekly shopping.
Children’s Pension
In some cases, a Member’s pension may be transferred to an eligible child, as long as the child is (in relation to a deceased Member)
• a natural or adopted child of a Member who meets any of points A to C and who was born before, on, or in the case of a natural child, within 12 months of the Member’s death
• a stepchild or child accepted by the deceased as a member of the family (excluding a child sponsored by the Member through a registered charity) who –
(i) meets any of conditions A to C; and
(ii) was dependent on the Member at the date of death.
Conditions:
A. is that the person is aged under 17 or 18, depending on the date of leaving active employment.
B. is that the person is in full-time education or vocational training and has not reached the age of 23
C. is that the person has physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities and either
(i) has not reached the age of 23; or
(ii) the impairment is likely to be permanent and the person was dependent on the Member at the date of the Member’s death because of that physical or mental impairment.
Education or training may be treated as continuous despite a break and we may suspend payment of any child’s during such a break.
If there are children not in your care, who may be eligible, please inform us of the name and address of their parent or guardian.
Online services
Setting up your account
If you are eligible to receive a survivor’s pension, we will set up a pension account in your name.
All you need to do is register for the online service and you will be able to manage your pension and access important documents online – such as your annual P60 certificate. You will also be able to update your contact details change your bank account details in just a few clicks.
If you would like any assistance, please call the Pensions Helpdesk on 0300 323 0260.