What if I die as a member?

If you were to die whilst in service children's pensions are payable to eligible children and increase every year in line with the cost of living.

The amount of pension depends on the number of eligible children you have and if a partner's pension is being paid to a spouse, civil partner or eligible co-habiting partner.

Eligible child

• a natural child born before, on or within 12 months of a member's death
• an adopted child born before or on the date of the member's death
• a step-child or a child accepted by the deceased member as a member of the family who was dependent on the member at the date of death.

An eligible child must also be:

• under age 18, or
• aged under 23 and in full-time education or vocational training. Your pension fund can continue to treat a child as an eligible child even if there has been a break in full-time education or vocational training, or
• under age 23 and unable to engage in gainful employment* because of physical or mental impairment, or
• over age 23, unable to engage in gainful employment* because of permanent physical or mental impairment and the child was dependent on the member at the date of death because of that impairment. An independent registered medical practitioner must give their opinion on whether the impairment is likely to be permanent.

*Gainful employment means paid employment for not less than 30 hours in each week for a period of not less than 12 months.

Where a pension is payable to two or more children the pension will be shared equally.

The benefits that are generally payable are set out below: