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What if I die in service?

If you die in Shell service, as an Active Member, a discretionary lump sum benefit is payable. Immediate pensions are also payable to your Qualifying Spouse and Children.

How much is the lump sum?

The lump sum is 3 x Pensionable Salary at date of death. It is payable at the discretion of the Employing Company. This means that your employer decides who should receive it. As the benefit is discretionary it is not normally subject to Inheritance Tax.

Who will receive the lump sum?

It is important to make sure you complete a SCPF Death in Service Nomination Form and keep it up to date. Your Employing Company will then know who you wish to receive the lump sum and take this into account when making a full assessment of your personal circumstances if you die in service.

If you have paid AVCs the value of your fund, returnable on death, is considered separately as it is payable at the discretion of the Trustee and not your Employing Company. You should also complete an AVC Death Benefits Nomination Form as well as the SCPF Death in Service Nomination Form.

Further information about AVCs is available under Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) and in the SCPF AVC explanatory booklet.

How much pension will my Qualifying Spouse and Children receive?

The Qualifying Spouse’s pension is 60% of the pension you would have received at Pension Age, based on your Final Pensionable Salary and Prospective Pensionable Service at date of death.

Pensions for children are based on whether or not you leave a Qualifying Spouse and how many Children you have. The SCPF explanatory booklet contains full details.

If you die in Shell service as an Active Member after reaching Pension Age, pensions for your dependants are based on the pension you would have received if you had started drawing it at your date of death.

What if I leave an adult dependant?

If you do not leave a Qualifying Spouse a pension may be payable to an Adult Dependant at the discretion of the Employing Company. See the SCPF Adult Dependent Factsheet for active members for further details.

What if I leave no dependants?

A refund of your own pension contributions, plus interest at the rate of 3% per annum, is payable to your estate. The value of your AVC fund is also payable to your estate. A lump sum (3 x Pensionable Salary at date of death) is also payable at your Employing Company’s discretion.

Useful documents

SCPF Explanatory booklet

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