Death in Service
In cases where a scheme member dies in service, the Pension Section should be notified immediately by telephone or e-mail. Once further details have been established, the Scheme Leavers form (ePEN3) will need to be completed and forwarded to the Pension Section as a matter of urgency. If a representative is to visit the family, we will also require the following documents:
- The death certificate
- If there is a spouse, copies of the Marriage certificate or Civil Partnership registration and their Birth Certificate are also required
If the deceased was unmarried and not in a civil partnership, but there is a cohabiting partner, please let us know the partner's name, and the Pension Section will let him/her know details of the criteria for claiming a partner's pension so that they can check to see if they qualify. This is because partner's pensions are not automatic, there must be certain qualifying conditions.
- We also require a note of the spouse's National Insurance number
If there are natural or adopted children under age 18 or in continuous full-time education up to age 23, or there are children who are dependent due to a disability, we will also require copies of their birth certificate to establish their eligibility to a pension benefit. The Pension Section may well write for further documents in due course, such as confirmation from the school or college that the child is attending.
- Photocopies of documents would be preferred.
If it is not appropriate at the time, please supply the Pension Section with as many details as you have, and the Pension Section will write requesting the necessary information. If there is not to be a home visit, or if there is no known family, then please advise the Pension Section of the name and address of the informant, or the representative of the deceased, in order that contact can be made directly with them.
What happens to the death grant?
The death grant is intended for the benefit of the pension scheme member’s nominee or personal representative or any person appearing to have been a relative or dependant at any time. A member may have nominated the beneficiary(ies) by completing a Death Grant Expression of Wish form:
Nomination forms are also available on request and are provided to all new starters to the pension scheme.
Please note that a member can check whether the Pension Section holds details of any nominees as this is referred to on their annual pension benefit statement.
