Death of an active member
As a member of the LGPS, there is protection for your family if you were to die in service.
Survivors' pension
LGPS Access and Fairness Scheme changes: fairer survivor benefits
From 1 April 2026, survivor pensions will be calculated more consistently to ensure equal treatment regardless of the sex of the member or their survivor.
Some survivor pensions will be increased as more of the member’s service before April 2014 will now count. Some survivor pensions will become payable for the first time – this is most likely to affect male survivors of female members who left the LGPS before April 1988.
The changes apply to deaths dating back to:
- 5 December 2005 for opposite sex marriages and same sex civil partnerships
- 13 March 2014 for same sex marriages
- 31 December 2019 for opposite sex civil partnerships.
Some cohabiting partners’ pensions may also increase if the member died between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2014.
A pension is provided for a surviving widow, widower, registered civil partner or, subject to certain qualifying conditions, a cohabiting partner. A survivors pension is due immediately after death (providing conditions are met), for the rest of their life, and will be adjusted every year in line with the cost of living (CPI). Pensions may also be due to eligible children.
Lump sum Death grant
If you die in service as a member of the LGPS, a lump sum death grant of three times your assumed pensionable pay at your date of death is paid.
You can choose who you would like this lump sum to be paid to by keeping your beneficiaries up to date on your My Pension Online account.
How to tell us about a death
You must tell us about a member’s death as soon as possible so we can work out what benefits are due. If you’re telling us about a death, you should have the following information:
- Full name and address of the deceased
- The date of death and where the death was registered
- Reference number such as national insurance number or payroll number
- Full name and address of the next of kin and a phone number
We’ll write to the next of kin and ask to see the death certificate. We may also ask for information about marital status and ‘eligible’ children.
Once we know who should receive a survivors pension and/or death grant, the benefits will be worked out and paid.
