Children's pensions

If you have eligible children and die, they would be entitled to receive a child’s pension. The exact level of benefit payable will depend on whether a benefit is payable to a surviving spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner as well as to the child and if you are still contributing to the scheme or if you have left employment.

Who is eligible?

A child must be either:

  • A natural or adopted child born before, on or (if a natural child) within 12 months of your death

or

  • A step-child or any other child accepted as a member of your family and who was dependant on the member at the date of death

who is also:

  • under age 18

or

  • between 18 and 23 and still in continuous Full Time education or vocational training

or

  • of any age and unable to work due to physical or mental impairment

If the last condition were to apply, we must ask an independent registered medical practitioner (IRMP), approved by the fund, to make an assessment. If the condition is met, then the pension would continue to be paid for the life of the child.

How is this calculated?

The calculation for a children’s pension is much the same as the calculation for a surviving spouse or civil partner (although there is no restriction to membership). The fractions used in the calculations are also different:

  • if there is 1 child and another survivor benefit is also payable, then the calculation would be based on 1/320
     
  • if there is more than 1 child and another survivor benefit is also payable, then the calculation would be based on 1/160, with the total amount of pension calculated shared equally between the children
     
  • if there is 1 child and no other survivor benefit payable, then the calculation would be based on 1/240
     
  • if there is more than 1 child and no other survivor benefit payable, then the calculation would be based on 1/120, with the total amount of pension calculated shared equally between the children

If there are 2 or more eligible children, and one child ceases to be eligible (attains age 18, say) then the pension share for the remaining children is changed, until the point that there remains only 1 eligible child, at which point that child would receive only 1/320 or 1/240, depending on circumstances.

If initially another survivor pension had been payable and then the recipient of that pension were to die also, any children’s pensions which had initially been calculated at the rate of 1/320 or 1/160, would be recalculated to the rate of 1/240 or 1/120 respectively and this increased pension would be paid from the day after the death of the survivor.

For full details of what pension would be payable in the event of your death, you should contact us.