While you remain a contributing member of a pension scheme you are automatically covered by its death in service provisions. Your employer may offer increased life assurance cover outside the scheme.

What happens to pension after death?

Typically, pension plans allow for only the member—or the member and their surviving spouse—to receive benefit payments. “When a plan participant dies, the surviving spouse should contact the deceased spouse’s employer or the plan’s administrator to make a claim for any available benefits.

How do I notify pension of death?

To report the death of a person who is receiving or due a pension benefit from PBGC, please call us at 1-800-400-7242. For TTY/ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) users, call the federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to the number listed above.

Do all pensions have death benefits?

Most workplace and private pension schemes provide death benefits and, in the event that you pass away, your beneficiaries should contact your pension scheme administrator for more information. If you’re already drawing your State Pension when you die, your pension beneficiary should contact the Pension Service.

Does everyone get death in service?

Companies aren’t legally required to offer death in service benefit, so not all employers will give you cover. Sometimes death in service is linked to the company pension, which means you can be an employee without receiving death in service cover if you’re not signed on to the scheme.

What is a death in service policy?

What is death in service benefit? Death in service is an occupational benefit provided by some employers. It means that if you die while on the payroll, a nominated beneficiary will receive a lump sum – often two to four times your salary, but this can vary between employers.

What happens to pension in case of death?

Some pension arrangements provide pension benefits to dependants in the event of a member’s death in service. Typically these benefits are a percentage of salary or a percentage of the pension the member would have received at retirement.

How are death benefits worked out on death in service?

The death benefit lump sum will be worked out as the better of the lump sum ‘guarantee’ payable on death soon after retirement and the death in service lump sum. The calculations will take into account the pension and lump sum that the member has already received.

Where can I Find my lost pension details?

The new DWP online Pension Tracing Service helps reunite people with their lost pensions, giving details of providers to help people track them down. I’d encourage anyone who thinks they may be missing out on any savings to use the free online service at

How many jobs do you need to keep track of pension?

People have had on average 11 jobs during their working life which can mean they have as many work place pensions to keep track of. The new DWP online Pension Tracing Service helps reunite people with their lost pensions, giving details of providers to help people track them down.