Death and benefits

Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015

Lump sum payable

If you were to die within 5 years of your pension coming into payment, there would be a lump sum death benefit equivalent to the difference between five times the annual amount of pension and the amount of instalments of pension paid. If you were both an active member and a pensioner member at the date of death, the amount of lump sum death benefit payable would be the greater of that which would be paid in respect of the active membership or of the pensioner membership.

Bereavement pension

For the first 13 weeks following the death of a member, a "bereavement pension" may be paid to a surviving partner. The weekly amount of bereavement pension would be the difference between the weekly amount of pension to which the pensioner member was entitled at the date of death, and the weekly amount of surviving partner's pension. Where there is no surviving partner, an eligible child would be entitled to the bereavement pension.

Partner's pension

If you die, your partner will receive a pension which will be paid for life. Your partner's pension will be the same, whether your marriage or civil partnership began before or after you retired or stopped paying into the pension scheme.

• Your partner's pension will be 1/2 of your pension, after commutation but before any early retirement reductions were applied
• If you have a partner but you are not married or in a civil partnership, you may nominate him or her to receive a pension if you die. To see if they qualify and to nominate someone please use the Cohabiting partner nomination form
• Your partner's pension would be paid for life, even if he or she remarries, marries or forms a civil partnership
• If your partner is more than 12 years younger than you, his or her pension will be reduced by 2.5% for each year or part-year's age difference over 12 years

Children's pensions

If you have children, they will receive a pension for as long as they are eligible.

• If you have one child, his or her pension will be 1/4 the amount of your pension, after commutation but before any early retirement reductions were applied
• If you have two or more eligible children, they will share 1/2 the amount of your pension, after commutation but before any early retirement reductions were applied

Your child will be eligible to receive a pension if:

• he or she is your natural, adopted or step-child or
• he or she was dependent on you and is related to you, or is a child of your husband, wife, civil partner or nominated partner and
• he or she is below age 18, or below age 23 and in full time education or
• he or she is permanently disabled when the member dies - may be entitled to receive a pension for life