The first is a lump sum of four times your Pensionable Salary at the date of death (or, if higher, your actual earnings in the last twelve months). This is payable to one or more beneficiaries. In order to ensure that the benefit is not subject to Inheritance Tax, the Trustees must make the final decision as to who receives it.  Nevertheless, the Trustees will take your wishes into account. To ensure that they are aware of those wishes, you are strongly advised to complete an Expression of Wish Form which should be returned to the Pensions Department. If your personal circumstances change later, you should complete a new form.

The second benefit is a lump sum equal to the total contributions that you paid to the Scheme, and this is payable to one or more beneficiaries, in addition to the lump sum payment of four times your Pensionable Salary.

The third benefit, which is payable if you are married or in a registered civil partnership at the date of your death, is a pension to your spouse/civil partner. This is calculated as follows:

50% x 1/80th of your Pensionable Salary (or, if higher, your actual earnings in the last twelve months, but subject to any upper limit which may be set by the Scheme) multiplied by the Pensionable Service you would have completed by Normal Pension Date. This pension may be converted into a lump sum subject to contracting-out regulations being satisfied. 

If your spouse/civil partner is more than ten years younger than you, the spouse/civil partner's pension will be reduced. The spouse/civil partner's pension will be paid monthly in advance for the rest of your spouse/civil partner's life.

Your spouse/civil partner's pensions will increase each year in the same way as your own pension would have done (see 'How will my pension be increased?')

The fourth benefit, which is payable if you have children (see note below) at the date of your death, is a pension of 25% for the first child, with two or more children sharing 50%. This is calculated as follows:

25% or 50% x 1/80th of your Pensionable Salary (or, if higher, your actual earnings in the last twelve months, but subject to any upper limit which may be set by the Scheme) multiplied by the Pensionable Service you would have completed by Normal Pension Date.

Children’s pensions are payable to natural or legally adopted children up to the age of 18, or (if the Trustees so determine) under age 23 and in full time education.  The Trustees also have discretion to pay children’s pensions to other children who were financially dependent on you.

Your children’s pensions will increase each year in the same way as your own pension would have done (see 'How will my pension be increased?').

If you are not married or in a registered civil partnership at the date of your death, the Trustees have discretion to pay a pension to another person. In doing so, the Trustees will consider unmarried partners (of the same or opposite sex) in the same way as married partners. However, the Trustees will only consider such dependants' pensions to be payable where financial dependency on the member can be demonstrated. The Trustees may therefore request such information as they feel is necessary to fulfil this requirement.

As a member of the Group Pension Scheme a lump sum is payable in the event of your death. The Trustees use their discretion to decide who should receive the lump sum so it is important that your wishes are made known to the Trustees as soon as you join the Scheme and is updated if your personal circumstances change. The expression of wish form gives you the opportunity to identify the person(s) you wish to receive any lump sum which becomes payable upon your death.  The form can be downloaded here.

Your nomination will be treated as confidential, but you may wish to place your completed form in a sealed envelope which will only be opened if you die. You should mark the envelope clearly 'Expression of Wish Form – only to be opened in the event of my death' with your name, date of birth, National Insurance number and the date that the form was completed.