This page explains what benefits may be paid if you die after you have started taking your alpha pension, and who may receive them.
If you were also a member of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) before moving to alpha, this page also explains how those benefits are paid.
What benefits may be paid?
If you die after taking your pensions, the following benefits may be paid:
Not everyone will be entitled to all of these benefits. This depends on when you die and who is eligible.
Lump sum payments
When a lump sum can be paid
A lump sum can only be paid if you die within 5 years of starting to receive your pension. The lump sum is normally paid to the person, people or organisation you have nominated.
If the validity of a nominee is disputed, the Scheme Manager has the discretion to determine where the payment should be made.
How the lump sum is worked out
The lump sum is:
5 times your annual pension, including any increases
minus:
any pension payments you had already received
any lump sum you took when you retired
Because of this, no lump sum may be payable in some cases.
Pensions for dependants
There are two types of dependants’ pension:
How long dependant's pensions are paid
As long as your dependants remain eligible, their pensions will continue to be paid.
Adult dependant's pension
An eligible adult dependant will normally receive:
37.5% of the pension you were receiving
This includes:
If you gave up some pension at retirement to take a lump sum, the dependant's pension is based on your pension before that reduction.
When the amount may be reduced
The adult dependant's pension will be reduced if your spouse, civil partner or partner is more than 12 years younger than you.
Child's pension
The amount paid depends on:
If an adult dependant’s pension is being paid each child receives 30% of your pension. If there is more than 2 children the total paid is 60% of your pension and this is shared equally between the children.
If no adult dependant’s pension is being paid each child receives 50% of your pension. If there is more than 2 children, the total paid is 100% of your pension and this is shared equally between the children.
If you were previously in the PCSPS
This section applies if you were a member of the PCSPS (classic, classic plus, premium or nuvos) before 1 April 2015, and you later moved into alpha.
It explains what happens to the PCSPS part of your pension if you die after taking your pension.
PCSPS lump sum
A PCSPS lump may be paid if you die within 5 years of taking your pension.
The amount is worked out under PCSPS rules and is affected by:
Your benefits are paid separately from alpha, using PCSPS rules.
PCSPS dependant's pensions
Your eligible dependants may receive pensions from the PCSPS part of your pension.
There is no time limit for PCSPS dependant's pensions. They are worked out using PCSPS scheme rules.
Important information about scheme rules
This page is a guide only. The full legal position is set out in the scheme rules
If there is any difference between this guide and the rules, the rules apply
Scheme rules, tax limits and tax rates can change
You can find the PCSPS scheme rules on the Civil Service Pensions website.
