Notify us of a death
If you need to let us know about the death of a pension scheme member, this page will guide you through the process and explain what happens next.
Ways to notify LPPA of a death
There are different ways to notify us of a member’s death. Please select their scheme using the tabs below and choose the option that suits you.
The checklist below explains what information you will need to pass on when you get in touch.
When you get in touch with LPPA, you will be asked to provide the information outlined in the checklist below. If you provide this to us all together, it can save you time and help to speed up the process.
Member’s details
Spouse / dependant /child details
Best person for LPPA to contact
Bank details
Was the member still contributing to their pension? Yes/No
Was the member receiving regular pension payments? Yes/No
If yes, is the bank account where they received their pension open or closed? Open/Closed
Understanding the process
- You can notify us by telephone, email, online contact form or using the Gov.UK Tell Us Once service
- This notification prompts us to update the member’s record and prepare the relevant paperwork.
- If the member was receiving a pension, we pause any pension payments upon notification of their death.
- We contact the executor or next of kin (by letter or email) to explain how the process works and what is required.
- Once we have all the necessary information, we pay any pension underpayments to the relevant person (usually the estate).
- Alternatively, an invoice for any overpayments may be sent to the relevant person (for example, the executor or solicitor) with details of how to pay. This sometimes happens due to the timing of the last payment and when we were notified.
- Potential benefits may include a death grant lump sum, a spouse’s pension, partner pension, or other dependant pension.
- These benefits are explained in a letter sent to all relevant parties (executor, next of kin, or solicitor) by email or post, depending on preference.
- The relevant forms are included with this letter.
- All forms must be signed, witnessed (if applicable), and returned to LPPA. The easiest way to do this is via our online contact form by taking a photograph or scanning the relevant documents and uploading them.
- Additional information may also be requested, such as a copy of the death certificate.
- If benefits are due, we may also need ID verification for next of kin, spouses, or dependants (these are outlined in the forms).
- All solicitors are verified before we send out any documents.
Tips to avoid delays when completing forms
1. Read each form carefully and don’t leave any blanks.
2. Remember to sign and date each form.
3. If there are multiple claimants for underpayments (or other benefits), you must provide identification documents for each one.
4. If you have applied for probate, tick ‘yes’ to this question on the form and remember to send us a copy.
5. Check the spouse’s details are included correctly on the spouse’s form.
- All completed forms are added to the member’s record.
- Please be aware that we are unable to process any benefits until we have all the correct information.
- If any information is missing or incomplete, we contact you and ask you to resend it.
- Pension benefits are always arranged as quickly as possible, but timings can vary depending on the individual situation and whether we have the correct information and documents.
- The time it takes to process a survivor’s pension also depends on whether the payment is for a spouse, partner or child.
- It’s much easier to process a death grant lump sum if there is a nominated beneficiary against the member’s record. If there is no nomination, we have to send the forms directly to the executors, which can delay the process.
- Delays are also caused by missing information, multiple beneficiaries or beneficiary disputes. Plus, we can’t process a death grant if there is a spouse’s pension still outstanding.
- We contact all relevant parties to confirm the final benefit payments and timings.
- Details of these communications are held against the member’s record.
