What happens if I die before receiving my deferred benefits?

If you leave with deferred benefits after 31 March 2008 and die before receiving them:

We will pay a one-off cash lump-sum death grant which will be the same as five times the current value of your deferred Yearly pension. This will include any cost of living increases from your date of leaving to the date of your death.

We decide who to pay any lump-sum death grant to, but will take your wishes into consideration. You can let us know your wishes by filling in an ‘ Expression of Wish Form’. The form is available from Avon Pension Fund, or from the Deferred Member Forms page of this website.

There are also Survivors pensions for your husband, wife, registered civil partner, or nominated cohabiting partner. We will pay an ongoing pension which will increase every year in line with the cost of living, for the rest of their life. If you are living with a partner you have not legally married, or entered a civil partnership with, you may be able to nominate them to receive a Survivor’s pension by filling in a ‘ Nomination of a Cohabiting Partner Form ’. The form is available from Avon Pension Fund, or from the Deferred Members Area of our website at Deferred Member Forms, and contains notes explaining who would be eligible for nomination.

If you leave dependent children, we will pay a pension for as long as they are classed as eligible.

You can find out more about Survivors pensions from the ‘Life Cover – Protection for Your Family’ section of the full LGPS Employee Guide.