If you die after retirement, the Cornwall Pension Fund provides protection for your family.
Depending on your circumstances the following may be payable:
- Lump sum death grant
- Spouse, civil partners or nominated cohabiting partners pension
- Children's pensions
Find out more about these payments below by clicking on the titles.
If you are receiving a survivor's pension, this will increase each April in line with the consumer prices index. If you die whilst receiving a survivor's pension, then no further benefits will be payable.
Relevant documents
In order to ensure your family are protected it is essential that you have completed the relevant form:
- Expression of wish for lump sum death benefits form
- Nomination of cohabiting partner for survivors pension form (before completing the nomination of cohabiting partner for survivors pension form, please read the notes on the reverse of the form, as it only applies to certain individuals).
If your circumstances change, for example if you get married or enter into a civil partnership you will need to complete a new form.
Death grant if you left before 1 April 2008
If you die within 5 years of retiring and are under the age of 75, a lump sum equal to 5 times your annual pension (less any pension you have already received) will be payable.
Death grant if you left after 1 April 2008
If you die within 10 years of retiring and are under the age of 75, a lump sum equal to 10 times your annual pension (less any pension you have already received) will be payable.
It is important to ensure that your expression of wish for lump sum death benefits form is up to date.
If you are married or in a civil partnership:
-
a survivor's pension will be payable in the event of your death.
A cohabiting partners pension is not automatic. Your cohabiting partner would only receive a pension if you meet certain cohabiting partner conditions. Plus if you have completed a nomination of cohabiting partner for survivors pension form.
The survivors pension will still be payable even if:
- your spouse or,
- your civil partner or,
- cohabiting partner
re marries or enters into a new civil partnership.
There are certain conditions which must be met before you can nominate a cohabiting partner to receive a survivor's pension
- You must have paid into the pension scheme on or after 1 April 2008
- You must be free to marry or enter into a civil partnership with each other
- You and your nominated partner must be living together as if you were husband and wife, or civil partners
- Neither you or your nominated cohabiting partner have been living with someone else as if:
- you or they were husband and wife, or civil partners
- Your nominated cohabiting partner is financially dependent on you. Or you are financially interdependent on each other.
If you meet these conditions and wish to nominate your cohabiting partner to receive a survivor's pension in the event of your death:
- please complete and return a nomination of cohabiting partner for survivors pension form.
If you left after 1 April 2014 this form is not essential. But it would be helpful if you completed and returned a form to inform us of your circumstances.
At what age will my spouse, civil partner or nominated cohabiting partner receive their widow's pension?
They will start receiving their survivors pension immediately after your death.
I left before 1 April 2008
If you left before 1 April 2008, a short term pension will be payable to your spouse or civil partner in the event of your death, followed by a long term pension.
I left after 1 April 2008
If you left after 1 April 2008 a long term pension will be payable to your spouse, civil partner or nominated cohabiting partner in the event of your death.
Short term pension
If you left prior to 1 April 2008:
- a short term pension is payable to your spouse or civil partner.
This is for the first 3 months after your death, or for the first 6 months if there are any eligible children:
- Your wife will usually receive the same amount that you receive for the first 3 or 6 months
- Your husband or civil partner will receive the same amount that you receive for the first 3 or 6 months. But, membership before 6 April 1988 will not count towards your husband or civil partners pension. This is unless you have previously elected for it to do so and paid the contributions in order for this service to count.
When the short term pension ends, a long term pension will then be payable for the rest of your life:
Long term pension
If you left before 1 April 2008, when the short term pension ends a long term pension will be payable for the rest of your spouse or civil partners life. If you left after 1 April 2008, your spouse, or civil partner will not receive a short term pension, they will receive a long term pension only.
- Your wife's long term pension will be based on 1/160th of your final pensionable pay for your period of membership.
- Your husband or civil partner will receive half of your pension. But, membership before 6 April 1988 will not count towards your husband or civil partners pension. This is unless you have previously elected for it to do so and paid the contributions in order for this service to count.
If you converted some of your pension into a lump sum at retirement (before 6 April 2006) the calculation of your spouse, or civil partners long term pension will be based on your pension before the reduction.
Marriage after retirement
If you got married or entered into a civil partnership after retirement, your husband/wife/civil partners pension will be calculated differently, in the event of your death
- Your wife's pension would be based on your pensionable service built up after 6 April 1978
- Your husbands pension would be based on your pensionable service built up from 6 April 1988, excluding any additional membership you may have purchased
- If you are male and retired before 31 March 1972, there will not be a short term pension payable and your wife will receive a pension of 1/3 rather than half.
Relevant forms
- Expression of wish for lump sum death benefits form
- Nomination of cohabiting partner for survivors pension form
I got married or entered into a civil partnership after retirement
If you got married after retirement your spouse or civil partner's pension will be calculated differently.
If you die as a pensioner member of the Cornwall Pension Fund:
-
the scheme provides protection for your family including a pension for eligible children.
Eligible children
Eligible children are:
- Under the age of 18 (unless they are in full time education, or in full time training for a trade, profession or vocation since before the age of 18)
- If the child's pension came into payment after 5 April 2006 their pension will cease by the age of 23
- A dependant child of any age who is disabled
In all cases an eligible child must:
- be a child from a marriage which took place before you left the Fund, and
- the child must have been born within a year of the date you left, or who was adopted by you before you left the Fund, or who was dependent on you financially before you left and on the date of your death.
What will eligible children receive?
If a widow's, widower's, civil partners or nominated cohabiting partners pension is payable:
- one child would receive 1/320th of your final pay, multiplied by the membership your pension is based on
- Two or more children would receive 1/160th shared equally between them.
If there is no widow, widower's, civil partners or nominated cohabiting partners pension payable:
- one child would receive 1/240th of your final pensionable pay multiplied by the total membership your pension is based on
- Two or more children would receive 1/120th shared equally between them.
