Published
22nd June 2026
22nd June 2026
What happens to my pension if I die in service?
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) provides valuable financial protection for you and your family.
Lump Sum Death Grant
If you are an active member and die while in service, a lump sum death grant of three times your annual pensionable pay will normally be paid to your chosen beneficiary/beneficiaries.
To help us pay this benefit quickly and in line with your wishes, it’s important that you tell us who you would like to receive it. You can do this by completing a nomination (known as an “Expression of Wish”). While the final decision rests with the administering authority, your nomination helps guide us and can make the process smoother.
You can submit or update your nomination by:
Logging in to your Member Self Service account at pensions.lambeth.gov.uk/
If you have not yet registered, you can sign up online
Alternatively, download an Expression of Wish form from the Resources section of lgpslambeth.org
Survivor’s Pensions
An ongoing survivor’s pension may also be paid to your spouse, civil partner or eligible cohabiting partner. This pension is paid for the rest of their life. The amount is based on a proportion of the pension you have built up, with different percentages applying to different periods of membership and will also include an enhancement.
If you have eligible children, they may also receive a children’s pension, with the amount depending on the number of children and whether a partner’s pension is payable.
If you leave the scheme before retirement, or die after your pension has started, survivor benefits may still be payable, although they will be based on your deferred or pension-in-payment amount.
Further Information
To learn more about the protection available for you and your family, watch this short video:
Protection for you and your family (1 minute 31 seconds)
This video is available on the national LGPS member website www.lgpsmember.org, where you can find further information about your benefits.
