Death after retirement - old scheme (1997 regulations)
Who should my next of kin notify if I die after retirement?
Your widow, widower, civil partner , next-of-kin or person dealing with your Estate must immediately inform the Pensions Office of the death, otherwise an overpayment may occur. Contact details can be found on the Contacting us page
We will require the following information regarding the deceased pensioner:
- The name, address and date of death
- The pay and national insurance number, this can be found on the pensioner's latest pay slip
- The name and address of the next of kin
- The name and address of the person dealing with the Estate, if different from the next of kin.
What benefits will be paid if I die after retirement?
If you die after retirement, your pension benefits will cease and the following benefits may then be payable:
A lump sum death grant
A death grant is payable if death occurs within 5 years of retirement and is equal to five years pension less any pension already paid.
Death Grant Nomination Form
Dependants benefits
A dependants pension is payable if you were married or in a registered Civil Partnership at the date of retirement.
A widow will receive a short-term pension for the three months following her husband's death, or six months if one or more eligible dependent children are in her care. This will be equal to the pension her husband was receiving or would have received but for a reduction as a result of early retirement or had it not been paid as a lump sum due to exceptional ill-health. After that she will receive a long-term pension generally equal to half the pension he was receiving or would have received but for a reduction as a result of early retirement or had it not been paid as a lump sum due to exceptional ill-health.
A widower will receive a short and long-term pension in the same way as a widow, however the pension will be based on his wife's total membership from 6th April 1988 only. In certain circumstances the pension will be based on his wife's total membership from 1st April 1972.
A Registered Civil Partner is entitled to dependant benefits on the member’s death. This benefit is calculated in the same way as widow/widowers benefits, but will only be based on pension membership accrued from 6th April 1988.
Pensions for eligible children
Eligible children's pensions are payable to the child's 18th birthday or, to the child's 23rd birthday as long they remain in full time education/training for a trade, profession or vocation, following your death. The pension is calculated based on the pension you were receiving at the date of your death or would have received, but for a reduction as a result of early retirement or had it not been paid as a lump sum due to exceptional ill-health. If your pension was originally calculated on a total membership of less than the shorter of ten years or the amount you could have accrued had you continued working to age 65, this amount is used to increase your pension for the purpose of calculating the children’s pension only.