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 employer 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 SOCPF 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.

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 SOCPF 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.

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 SOCPF Adult Dependent Factsheet for active members for further details.

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