Death benefits
Death benefits are payable if you die. Your options will vary depending on whether you are a contributing member, a preserved member or are receiving a PSS pension.
Benefits are generally paid to an eligible spouse and/or children. If you have no eligible dependants, a benefit will be paid to your Estate.
Use this area to find out what benefits are payable as a:
Also use this section to find information about the higher dependant pension option
If you die as a contributing member
Provided you are not a Limited Benefits Member, the benefit payable to your eligible spouse will be a percentage of the pension that would have been payable had you retired on invalidity grounds. The pension is increased for any eligible children and the various percentages are shown in Table 1 .
Your eligible spouse may choose to take their benefit as a pension, a lump sum or a combination of both (provided that at least 50% of the benefit is converted to a pension).
If you are a Limited Benefits Member at the time of your death no pension benefit is payable, the only benefit payable is a lump sum.
If you have no eligible dependants, the benefit will be paid as a lump sum to your Estate.
If you die as a preserved benefit member
If you die as a preserved benefit member, the pension benefit payable to your eligible spouse will be a percentage of the pension that would have been payable had you claimed your preserved benefit on invalidity grounds. The pension is increased for any eligible children and the various percentages are shown in Table 1
Your eligible spouse may choose to take their benefit as a pension, or a combination of pension and lump sum (even if your entire benefit has not been preserved in the PSS), or as a lump sum.
If you have no eligible dependants, a lump sum benefit will be paid to your Estate.
If you die as a pensioner
If you die whilst receiving a PSS pension, your eligible spouse is entitled to receive a pension that is a percentage of the pension being paid to you at the time of your death.
The percentage payable will depend on whether you choose the higher dependant pension option at the time of your retirement.
The various pension percentages are shown in Table 1.
Higher dependant pension option
If you retire on age or involuntary retirement grounds, or claim your preserved benefit on age grounds, you can elect to receive a lower pension at that time in return for your spouse and/or children receiving a higher pension in the event of your death.
You can elect to reduce your pension to 93% of the normal pension rate and, in return, your eligible spouse and/or children will receive a higher pension.
This option is not available if you retire on invalidity grounds or if you die whilst you are still a contributing or preserved benefit member.
Table 1 - Calculation of spouse's pension
Number of dependants |
Amount as a percentage of former member's |
Amount as a percentage of former member's |
Spouse only |
67% |
85% |
Spouse and one child |
78% |
97% |
Spouse and two children |
89% |
108% |
Spouse and three or more children |
100% |
108% |
For more information see The facts about death benefits or The PSS Super Book .
