What happens to your pension when you die

The NHS Pension Scheme gives you life assurance cover and lump sum benefits that can help to look after your loved ones after you’re gone.

As a pensioner member, your family or someone you have nominated may be eligible to receive a dependant’s pension or a lump sum in the event of your death.

We call these people ‘eligible dependants’.

What is an eligible dependant

A Nominee

This is the person you’ve nominated to receive any lump sum that may become due in the event of your death.

An Adult dependant

This is your legal spouse, registered civil partner or qualifying scheme partner.

A dependant child

This is a child, or children, who are dependent on you.

They do not have to be your own child or children. It can include a number of other possible child dependants.

How much dependant pension will they receive

We will pay your benefits depending on:

which NHS Pensions Scheme you are a part of
your circumstances when you die

Your original award letter has details of the pension your dependant’s may receive when you die.

If you would like a more up to date calculation, contact us.

If your Scheme membership started on or after 1 April 2008

A children’s pension may be paid if the child is dependent on you, both at retirement and when you die.

The child must be, either:

under the age of 23
aged 23 or over and incapable of earning a living due to permanent physical or mental illness they have when you die

If your Scheme membership ended before 1 April 2008

A children’s pension may be paid if the child is dependent on you, both at retirement and when you die.

The child must be either:

under the age of 17
under the age of 23 and in full time education or training

The child in full time education may be eligible for children’s pension beyond their 23^rd birthday if their parent’s NHS pension was in payment before 6 April 2006 or if they were in receipt of a child pension before 6 April 2006.

If the child takes a gap year

If a child takes a gap year from full time education, their pension will stop for this period.

The parent or guardian of the child must let us know that they intend to:

take a gap year
return to their studies after this time

We’ll need proof that they’ve returned to full time education before the pension can be put back into payment.

If the child is in an apprenticeship, training or an internship

We may still pay the pension if the child has been accepted for either:

an apprenticeship
vocational training
an internship

The pension may be subject to the child earnings cap. We’ll need confirmation from their work placement of their start date and earnings.

If the parent or guardian of the child doesn’t let us know about a change in their circumstances, we may make overpayments. All overpayments must be repaid.

Tell us who you want to receive your benefits

You can nominate someone to receive any pension benefits that may be payable when you die.

You can find more detail on our nominations page on:

who can make a nomination
who you can nominate
how to make a nomination
how to cancel or change an existing nomination

Finding more about life assurance and family benefits

Read our Survivor's Guide (PDF: 377KB) for information about:

the lump sum payable on death and pension payable
adult dependant’s pensions
child dependant’s pensions

We also have information on how to let us know that a pensioner member has died.