What happens to my pension when I die?

What you need to know about your LGPS pension when you die.

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What happens if you die before we start to pay your pension

Your family will need to contact Pension Services immediately to inform us of your death. There may be some benefits due from the Oxfordshire Pension Fund, these may include:

  • a lump sum death grant
  • a pension payable to an eligible partner
  • pension to eligible children.

The regulations have changed several times over the years, to find out about what might be due following your death please contact Pension Services.

Eligibility

To decide on eligibility, Pension Services will request documents such as:

  • death certificate
  • marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
  • birth certificates
  • confirmation and statements of the cohabiting partnership.

Cohabiting partner

Your cohabiting partner may be able to receive a pension after your death if you:

  • paid contributions as a member of the LGPS after 31 March 2008
  • are not a councillor member.

Eligibility will be checked when a pension is claimed. A co-habiting partner must meet all the conditions of the regulations for at least two years before your death.

You do not have to complete any forms to register an entitlement for your cohabiting partner, but you may, if you wish, notify Pension Services of their details.   

Active pension record

If you have an active pension record and also a deferred pension in the LGPS, there may be restrictions to the amount of death grant we or the other fund can pay. We will make a full check of the entitlement before settling any payment.

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Tell us who you want benefits paid to (death grant)

The LGPS provides valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.

There could be a lump sum payment (called a death grant)  due if your death is:

  • while in service
  • after leaving the scheme, and you have not yet retired and the fund holds your deferred benefit
  • in some circumstances, after you have started to draw your pension.

Oxfordshire Pension Fund has absolute discretion about payment. But to assist with their decision, complete a 'Death grant expression of wish form'. The form will indicate where you want the death grant to be paid. The form is available on My Oxfordshire Pension.

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