If you were married or in a civil partnership with your spouse or partner when they passed away you’re entitled to receive a pension.

If you were neither married nor in a civil partnership but were partners, you might still be eligible for a pension as long as you meet the qualifying criteria (see below).

You’ll qualify for a pension only if your partner had two years’ or more pensionable service from 1 January 2007, you have lived together for a continuous period of at least two years immediately prior to your partner’s death and the following criteria is met:

1. you were able to marry or form a civil partnership with your partner;
2. you and your partner were living with each other as if you were a married couple or civil partners;
3. neither you or your partner were living with a third person as if they were a married couple or civil partners; and
4. you and your partner were financially interdependent or you were financially dependent on your partner.

Pensions for children

Any children, born during the lifetime or within 12 months of the member’s death, may be eligible for a child’s pension.

This also applies to any children born to a previous partner, adopted children, and financially dependent children who are living as part of the member’s family at the time of their death.

To be eligible, children can’t be married or in a civil partnership. They must be:

• Under 17; or if over 17, have remained in full-time education, or been in training for a trade or profession for at least two years, without a break of more than one academic year and up to age 23 at the latest;
• Incapacitated and unable to earn a living due to ill health at the time of your death. A doctor will need to confirm this. We’ll also need to know if they’re receiving any benefits.

We’ll request a copy of the children’s birth certificates and if the’re over age 17, completion of a form to evidence that they remain in full-time education or are undertaking a training course. If a child is incapacitated, we’ll request medical evidence and documentary evidence of benefits they may be receiving and/or other financial support.

How’s the pension calculated?

If a member dies after retiring and had a surviving spouse or partner and/or children, we’ll stop the pension until the death can be confirmed. Once it’s been authorised, we’ll continue to pay the pension in full for three months to the surviving adult. For the same three months, we’ll pay the same amount for the benefit of the children. If there is no surviving adult pension, we’ll stop the pension until the death can be confirmed. Once it’s been authorised, we’ll continue to pay the pension in full for six months for the benefit of the members children. These payments are called the short-term pension. After the short-term pension ends a long-term pension will be paid.

How long will family continue to receive a pension?

If the member was in service on or after 1 January 2007 any adult pension will be paid for the beneficiary’s lifetime.

Children’s pensions are payable to age 23 if they remain in full-time education or training, or longer if they’re incapacitated and continue to be so. Continued eligibility will be monitored.

How much service counts towards family benefits?

If the member nominated a partner for family benefits their service from 1 January 2007 will automatically be used in the calculation of family benefits.