Death of a member
If a member dies, please contact us as soon as possible.
What happens next?
After we have been told about a member’s death, we will contact the person dealing with their affairs and ask for any outstanding information. This is so we can see if any further benefits are due from the Scheme, for example possible lump sum or beneficiary’s pensions.
We will need to know the member’s:
- Pension scheme membership number
- Date of death
- Name and address of the person dealing with their affairs
- Whether the member leaves a widow, civil partner or someone else who was financially dependent on them
What is a spouse’s pension?
A spouse’s pension is a regular income paid to the surviving spouse, civil partner or nominated beneficiary after the death of a Scheme member.
What is a child’s pension?
A child’s pension is a regular income paid to the surviving child/children of a Scheme member after their death. Any surviving children could be entitled if they are:
- under 18, or
- under 23 and in either full-time education or training which is approved by the Scheme Manager, or
- incapable of self-support because of physical or mental incapacity.
What if my personal circumstances change?
If you are already receiving a spouse or child’s pension from the Scheme, we want to make sure the records we hold about your current personal circumstances are correct. We understand that for most members there will be no change, but if your personal circumstances have changed, then this could affect your pension entitlement.
Personal circumstance changes affecting a spouse’s pension
Examples of your personal circumstances changing are if you have remarried, entered into a new civil partnership or started to co-habit with a new partner.
We would like you to confirm your current marital status and whilst this may feel inappropriate or insensitive, the reason we ask is to ensure that we avoid any overpayment of pension which may result in you needing to pay the money back to the Scheme.
Even if there has been no change to your personal circumstances, we would be grateful if you could confirm this to us once a year so we can make sure our records are kept up to date. Occasionally we may also write to you for confirmation.
Personal circumstance changes affecting a child’s pension
Examples of circumstances changing for the recipient of a child/children’s pension are most likely to be if they have either left full-time education or have exceeded the age to be eligible.
If either you or someone you are responsible for, is in receipt of a child’s pension and you believe that any of the eligibility criteria are no longer met, then please contact the administration team via the Contact us page to avoid any overpayments.
How is a beneficiary’s pension calculated?
A beneficiary’s pension is calculated from the date the member died and the terms agreed by the Scheme. These terms vary depending on whether the member was in section A/B or C.
Read the “Your guide to death benefits” member guide, for the relevant section information. These guides are on the Useful documents page.
What should I do to apply for a beneficiary’s pension?
To apply for a beneficiary’s pension, an original death certificate of the member along with the following documents (where applicable) should be sent to the address below:
- Bereavement questionnaire
- A copy of the deceased’s Will
- Grant of Representation
- Original certificates, which could include marriage/civil partnership or full birth certificates for any potential beneficiaries (we do not require the birth certificate for the deceased).
- Bank account details of beneficiary
All original documentation will be returned as soon as possible
Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme
PO Box 551
Darlington
DL1 9TX
United Kingdom
For further information, please contact the Capita administration team:
Telephone: 0333 222 0078
Overseas: (+44) 1325 271 861
Email: enquiries@rmsps.co.uk
Further information about beneficiary’s benefits
For further details about these benefits, you can read the “Guide to benefits” on our Useful documents page. The benefits may vary depending on whether the member was a member of Section A/B or C. We recommend reading through the relevant Scheme guide and the pensioner newsletter(s) here.
Bereavement support
Bereavement is a deeply personal experience and it can affect people in many ways. Here are some organisations who may be able to help:
- GOV.UK – What to do after someone dies
- NHS – Grief after bereavement or loss
- Cruse - Bereavement Support
- Settld – Easily report a death to multiple companies in one go
- Down to Earth – Practical support with funeral costs
What if I need financial advice?
The following organisations may be able to offer support or assistance regarding financial matters should you wish to use them: