GMPF pension advice please

TJR31

I'm hoping someone can advise me. My wonderful husband of 31 years died in December 2018 age 55, while at work (not work related death). He'd been paying into GMPF pension scheme for approximately 30 years. I've already received my spouses pension from GMPF which I will receive monthly for life. My problem is with the Death Grant as my husband hadn't nominated anyone to receive it. I think he just assumed that I'd get it automatically as I'm his wife. Obviously I've found out this is not the case. My grown up children have signed the form from GMPF to say they want no part of the grant and it should come to me as that is what their dad wanted. I've had a letter back from GMPF to say they have received all the information they need to make a decision and it could take some time.
Very long winded I know.
Basically what I'm asking is, does anyone know how long I could be waiting for a decision on the Death Grant?
Any advice welcome.

Marcon

I'm so sorry to hear you are having such a sad time.

Even if there had been an up to date nomination (aka expression of wish) form, the trustees are still duty bound to do a fair amount of checking before taking a decision on who gets the lump sum. If they haven't done so and it later emerges that someone else feels they should have been included in the deliberations, the aggrieved party can (and often does) head straight for the Pensions Ombudsman, sometimes with messy results.

It all sounds pretty clear cut and obvious (and almost certainly is, which is why your distress is so wholly understandable), but until the trustees have done the necessary 'due diligence', they won't take a decision. Given they have confirmed they now have all the information needed, it would be surprising if the result wasn't available after the next trustee meeting - so I'd contact them and ask when that meeting might be.

TJR31

Thank you Marcon!
That makes so much sense. I've just been feeling a little lost by it all. If they'd explained it the way you have, it wouldn't have been a problem.
Thanks again, I really appreciate it.