Death Benefits

If you were a member paying into the Scheme from 1 April 2015, the following benefits will be paid if you die:  

While you are paying into the scheme   

• a pension will be paid if you die while paying into the scheme to your husband/wife/ civil partner or co-habiting partner based on membership enhanced to State Pension Age.  
• a pension is also paid to eligible children  
• a lump sum death grant of 3 x assumed pensionable pay is payable. 

After you retire   

If you were to die, after you retire a pension will be paid to your husband/wife/civil partner or co-habiting partner if you pre-deceased them.  A pension may also be payable to eligible children   

• If you die within ten years of retiring, a lump sum death grant of ten times the annual pension (before any reduction due to you taking any larger tax-free lump sum) less the amount of pension already paid out less any lump sum taken by you on retirement after 1 April 2009.  

   If you are a deferred member who left the fund but kept your benefits in the LGPS   

If you are a deferred member who stops paying into the scheme but keep your pension benefits within the fund (called deferred benefits) and aren't receiving your pension   

• a pension will be paid to your husband/wife/ civil partner or co-habiting partner based on 1/160 x your membership to date of leaving  
• a pension is also paid to eligible children  
• a lump sum death grant of five times your deferred pension is payable (or three times your pension if you left before 1 April 2009).

Notes on Lump Sum Death Grants

Before we make any decision, we will consider any wishes you have expressed, but are not bound by this. 

If you get married, form a registered civil partnership or your marriage or partnership ceases after making a nomination, you must confirm or change the nomination. If Lothian Pension Fund has been unable to pay the death grant to the nominees within two years of your death, it will be paid to your executors.

If you make a nomination of a child under the age of 16 and a death grant is to be paid whilst the child is under 16, in these circumstances if the grant is over £5,000 it will be paid via the Accountant of Court and not direct to the child or relative. The Accountant of Court ensures that all funds and property managed or supervised is invested  prudently and administered properly until the child reaches age 16.