What happens to a police pension when you die?

A police pension on death passes to the family as a lump sum death grant and pensions for a spouse, partner or children, under 1987, 2006 or 2015 rules.

If you are reading this after an officer has died, we are very sorry. What the family receives depends on which scheme the officer was in (1987, 2006 or 2015) and whether they died while serving, after leaving with a deferred pension, or after retiring. This guide covers England and Wales, with Scotland noted separately.

Working out which scheme applies is often the hardest part. Pinning down the rules that fit your officer needn't cost anything: an FCA-authorised adviser will help if one is requested using the form on this page. Separately, the force's pension administrator, which the Home Office's 2015 benefits guide names as the body that assesses, awards, pays and maintains every police pension, handles the claim itself.

Police pension on death: what the three schemes pay

Many officers have service in more than one scheme; an adviser can explain how the parts fit together.

Sources: the Home Office 1987 guide (October 2006), its 2006 guide (March 2009), its 2015 member's guide (GOV.UK page updated 10 November 2017) and SI 2015/445; the administrator can confirm later changes.

Who receives the lump sum death grant?

The 1987 guide says a grant of twice annual pensionable pay is paid when an officer dies serving, and the 2006 guide says three times; in the 2015 scheme it is final pay multiplied by three. The 1987 and 2006 guides call it "irrespective of your length of service"; the 2015 guide says there is no minimum period.

In the 2015 scheme (regulation 156) the scheme manager must pay a surviving spouse or civil partner, unless they were separated by a court order and the officer was neither required by it to support, nor regularly supporting, them or their child; failing that it may pay, in its discretion, a surviving adult partner, then a nominee, then the personal representative. Regulation 46 of the 2006 regulations (SI 2006/3415) sets a similar order. In the 1987 guide it goes to a surviving spouse or civil partner, otherwise to the personal representative.

Regulation 155 of the 2015 regulations says it is paid whether or not a survivor's pension is payable, but not for a member who dies after 75 (see the next section).

A 5-year guarantee on a police pension: what comes closest

The 2015 regulations set a five-year payment period for an officer who dies while still serving after 75; the other protections in the guides run for less time or are refunds. The closest provisions are:

• Active member who dies after 75 (2015). Regulation 158 replaces the lump sum with a pension, which must go to a surviving spouse or civil partner and otherwise may go to a surviving adult partner, a nominee or the personal representative. It is payable for "the 5 year period beginning with the date of death".
• Death within two years of retiring, or after leaving or retiring because of an injury on duty (2015). Regulation 165 lets the scheme manager, in its discretion, grant a gratuity to someone wholly or partly dependent on the member, financially or through impairment, up to the member's contributions and payments for added pension.
• Contributions refunded to the estate. The 1987 and 2006 guides both say that if the awards payable (excluding the lump sum death grant) come to less than the officer's total pension contributions, an extra award equal to the balance goes to the estate.

Which of these applies to a particular officer turns on the scheme and the dates; you can have your own case looked at without paying, by an FCA-authorised adviser, after submitting this page's form.

What a police widow, widower or partner is paid

Yes, a surviving spouse or civil partner can be paid a continuing pension in each scheme, generally half of the officer's pension.

1987 scheme: a widow's pension, and when it stops

The 1987 guide says adult survivors include widows, widowers and civil partners but not cohabitees who were not married or in a civil partnership, and a former spouse is not eligible. The widow of an officer who joined after 1 April 1972 gets a half-rate pension, normally where the officer had at least three years' pensionable service; for earlier joiners it depends on whether pre-April 1972 service was up-rated.

The pension stops if the survivor remarries, forms a new civil partnership or cohabits, but may be restored on application, at the police authority's discretion, if that relationship ends. A Home Office notice says that since the amending regulations came into force on 18 January 2016, widows, widowers and civil partners of officers who died on duty, if they meet its conditions, keep their benefits for life. See also widow's pension and remarriage.

2006 and 2015 schemes: paid for life

Both guides say adult survivor pensions are payable for life, even if the survivor remarries or forms a new partnership. For a death in service the pension is 50% of the ill-health pension the officer would have received; after retirement or with a deferred pension, 50% of the pension at death. Where the spouse or civil partner is over 12 years the officer's junior, both guides cut the pension by 2.5% for each year beyond 12, to a maximum cut of 50%. Regulation 137 of the 2015 regulations lets the scheme manager withhold a spouse's pension in its discretion where the marriage was less than six months before the death.

A partner who was not married to the officer

In the 2006 scheme an unmarried partner is paid only if both signed a joint declaration in the officer's lifetime and the partner then claims in writing; the guide expects two years of living together, with discretion to accept less. Regulation 135 of the 2015 regulations asks for cohabiting as partners in an exclusive, committed long-term relationship, financial dependence or interdependence, and that the officer could have married or formed a civil partnership with them, with at least two years of cohabitation, or less at the scheme manager's discretion. The 2017 member's guide also refers to a joint declaration form, so ask the administrator whether one is needed; it adds that the Police Pension Authority's decision is final.

Not sure a partner would qualify? If the form on this page is completed, an FCA-authorised adviser will telephone and discuss the facts with you, free of charge.

What the schemes pay an officer's children

• 1987. Generally 18.75% of the pension for each child, with a 37.5% ceiling where more than two are paid (25% and 50% for an orphan). From 16, a pension is not payable unless the child is in full-time education or training, or substantially dependent. Pensions payable from 6 April 2006 stop at 23 unless the child was dependent through disability when the officer died; children of a marriage made in retirement, or adopted in retirement, are excluded.
• 2006. Generally 25% of the pension; with more than two children, each gets 50% divided by the number. Payable below 19, until 23 in full-time education on a course of at least a year, or for life if permanently disabled when the officer died.
• 2015. The same 25%, or 50% shared between three or more. Regulation 144 covers a child of 18 or under; one under 23 studying or training full-time on a course of a year or more, or unable to work through impairment; and, at any age, one dependent through a likely permanent impairment.

Naming someone to receive the death grant

A nomination only decides who may receive the lump sum death grant. The 2006 and 2015 guides both say it does not override the grant going to a surviving spouse, civil partner or declared partner, and takes effect if there is none or they die together.

Under regulation 152 of the 2015 regulations a member nominates by giving a signed notice in the form the scheme manager requires. It is invalid if the individual dies first or is convicted of murdering the member (regulation 153), and the grant then goes to the personal representative. The Met Police Pensions nomination form, which is for 2015 scheme members, adds that you may name anyone including an organisation, revoking must be in writing, and "Your nomination is not binding on the police authority." See how to fill in an expression of wish form and nominee versus beneficiary.

Death on duty

An officer who dies from an injury on duty may leave the family payments under the Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/932, extending to England and Wales). The guides say these do not form part of the pension scheme. See also how pension death benefits work.

Police pension death benefits in Scotland

Scottish officers have their own schemes, covered by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA), whose page describes, for 2015, a two-year guarantee: "any balance between pension payments already paid and the total that would have been paid in the first two years of retirement, would be paid as a lump sum". For the 2006 scheme it says Police Scotland has absolute discretion over who receives the death grant, even if someone is nominated.

Claiming after a death, and the tax position

Tell the force's pension administrator as soon as you can; the Home Office guides say first payments to survivors follow as soon as possible, once entitlement is established. The 1987 guide (October 2006) and 2006 guide (March 2009) both described the lump sum death grant as tax free, but tax rules may have changed since; inherited pension tax explains the current position. How tax applies to your own grant or pension is something an adviser can look at on the call-back, free.

Common questions after a police officer has died

Does a police pension die with you?

Not for the family: the schemes can pay a lump sum and pensions for a spouse, partner and children.

Can a surviving spouse who is also a police officer still be paid?

Yes. The 2006 and 2015 guides say an adult survivor who is also a member of the scheme is still entitled to the survivor award.

Does the death grant form part of the estate?

When it is paid to the personal representative, the 1987 guide says it does. What happens if there is no beneficiary covers the wider question.

What if the officer had served for less than two years?

If they died while serving and paying in, the lump sum death grant is still paid. A spouse's pension for a death in service needs two years' qualifying service in the 2006 and 2015 schemes, and the 1987 guide says three years' pensionable service.

How much does a police widow get?

Generally half of a pension amount the scheme works out; the pounds depend on the officer's own record, and how much a police pension is explains the build-up.

Survivor's pension, lump sum and the family's other money can all be covered on a single call with an adviser, which this page's form arranges.

Sources

• Home Office via GOV.UK: 1987 members' guide (October 2006); 2006 members guide (March 2009); 2015 member's guide; benefits of the 2015 scheme (December 2021); Adult Survivor Pensions, 1987 scheme
• legislation.gov.uk: Police Pensions Regulations 2015; Police Pensions Regulations 2006; Police Pensions Regulations 1987; Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006
• Met Police Pensions nomination form; SPPA death benefits (read 22 October 2026)