What are your family entitlements if the worst happens to you?
Mary Petley of the Forces Pension Society outlines family pension entitlements and any criteria that apply.
AFPS 75 normally limits adult pensions to the member’s spouse/civil partner. Where the pension is in payment, the family will receive the member’s full pension for the first 91 days (if there are no eligible children) or 182 days (if there are), reducing to 50% of the member’s entitlement thereafter.
For a preserved pension, the spouse/civil partner receives 50% of the member’s pension entitlement plus a lump sum of three times the member’s pension – if none, it goes to the children or, if none, to the estate.
Children
For AFPS 75, a child must be under 17; or under 23 and in full-time education or vocational training.
A child (natural, adopted or stepchild) of a marriage which took place before the member left Service, or a child born outside marriage but during the member’s Service would have an entitlement, as would any natural child born within nine months of their death.
AFPS 05 and AFPS 15 pay adult pensions, normally worth 62.5% of the member’s entitlement, to the spouse/civil partner or eligible partner.
If the member dies within five years of their pension commencing, the balance of five years’ worth of pension benefits will be paid to the entitled adult or, if none, to their estate.
If the member’s pension is preserved/deferred a lump sum of three times their pension will be paid to their nominee or, if none, to the entitled adult or, if none, to the estate. For AFPS 05/AFPS 15, a child must be under 18; or under 23 and in full-time education or vocational training.
The child must be a natural child, or a child who is financially dependent upon the member, or a child born within 12 months of their death.
Family benefits
More detailed information about family benefits can be found in MMP 114, search online for ‘Forces Pension MMP 114’.
For AFP 75, MMP 126 search online for ‘MMP 126 Family Pension Benefits’ and
for AFPS 05 and AFPS 15-Your Pension Explained, search online for ‘AFPS 05 2015 Your Pension Explained’.
Remember, if you have membership of more than one scheme, your family could have more than one entitlement and, if you are affected by the McCloud judgment, they will be offered choices about which scheme some of these benefits come from.
If you are a Member of the Forces Pension Society and have a pension enquiry, please contact us via ‘Submit a Question’ in the Members’ area on the website. If you are not a Member but would like to find out more about us, visit: www.forcespensionsociety.org
