Complete a lump sum on death benefit nomination (DB2) form if you've contributed to the NHS Pension Scheme on or after 1 April 2008.
If your membership ended before 1 April 2008, your lump sum on death is paid to your legal spouse or civil partner.
If you want us to pay the lump sum to a personal representative dealing with the estate rather than a legal spouse or civil partner, complete a lump sum on death benefit (DB1) form.
You cannot nominate if you’ve retired and been in receipt of your pension for 5 years or longer as there will be no death gratuity lump sum payable. This includes any pension backdated to normal pension age (NPA).
Nominees
If you nominate your partner for survivor benefits but do not want them to receive any lump sum on death benefit, complete a lump sum on death benefit nomination (DB2) form.
The nomination can be for:
- a single individual
- multiple individuals
- a single organisation
If you make multiple nominations, we’ll pay separate amounts to each nominee on receipt of a completed claim form and the nominees original birth certificate.
A claim form will be sent to the child's legal guardian if the nominee is a minor.
Any lump sum will be paid to your estate if you’re single and have not made a nomination.
If a nominee dies before payment can be made, the deceased nominees share will be paid to your estate unless you change your nomination.
Any benefits payable on death may be paid to the Treasury Solicitor’s Office if there’s no estate as you have no Will or blood relatives.
Nominating an individual
There’s no limit on the number of individuals who can be nominated.
If you’re nominating multiple individuals, you can:
- opt for the individuals to receive an equal share of the lump sum on death benefit
- enter the percentage each individual should receive
The total of the percentages entered must equal 100%.
Nominating an organisation
The lump sum on death benefit cannot be split between individuals and an organisation.
It can only be nominated to one organisation which is:
- a body corporate
- an unincorporated body
- your personal representative
A body corporate must be a legal entity including:
- an association
- a company
- a person
- the government
- a government agency
- an institution identified by a particular name
An unincorporated body can be a:
- voluntary association or union which can also be called a voluntary organisation, unincorporated association, or an association
- group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body or organisation to accomplish a purpose
Change or cancel a nomination
Complete a:
- new lump sum on death benefit nomination (DB2) form if you have membership in the Scheme on or after 1 April 2008 and want to make any changes to a nomination
- Existing nomination cancellation (NOM1) form to cancel an existing nomination
- lump sum on death benefit (DB1) form if your membership in the Scheme ended before 1 April 2008 and you want to change or cancel a nomination