An ongoing pension is provided for your:
- spouse
- registered civil partner
- eligible cohabiting partner, subject to certain qualifying conditions and if you were a member of the LGPS on or after 1 April 2008
- eligible children.
Their pension is payable immediately after your death for the rest of their life. It increases every year in line with the cost of living.
Find out how survivor's pensions are calculated
Eligible cohabiting partner qualifying conditions
A cohabiting partner is someone you are living with as if you are married or in a civil partnership. On your death your cohabiting partner is automatically entitled to a survivor's pension as long as your relationship meets certain conditions laid down by the LGPS. The conditions are that for a period of at least 2 years at the date of your death you must:
- both have been free to marry or enter into a civil partnership
- both have lived together as a married couple or civil partners
- have been financially interdependent on each other or your partner has been financially dependent on you
- both have not been living with someone else as if you were husband, wife or civil partners.
On your death, your eligible cohabiting partner will be asked to provide 2 documents from 2 years before, and within 3 months of your death, as proof your relationship met the conditions. Documents of proof include:
- utility bills
- bank account statements and
- mortgage, lease or tenancy agreements.
Eligible children qualifying conditions
Your eligible children must meet the following conditions:
- be under age 18, or
- under 23 and in full-time education or vocational training, or
- be unable to engage in gainful employment because of physical or mental impairment and either:
- has not reached the age of 23 or
- the impairment is, in the opinion of an Independent Registered Medical Practitioner, likely to be permanent and the child was dependent on you because of that impairment.