What if I die in service?

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 Employing Company decides who should receive it. As the benefit is discretionary it is not normally subject to Inheritance Tax.

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 deciding who should receive the benefit.

If you have paid AVCs, your AVC fund would be paid as a lump sum benefit, payable at the discretion of the Trustee. This means that the Trustee decides who will receive it. As the benefit is discretionary it is not normally subject to Inheritance Tax. If you have paid AVCs, you should 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.

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.

The amount of pension paid to children depends on whether or not you leave a Qualifying Spouse and how many Children you have. The SCPF explanatory booklet contains full details.

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

A refund of your own pension contributions, plus interest at the rate of 3% a year, 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.