LGPS Children's Pension.

longleggedhair

I wonder if any of the LGPS experts here may be able to help me? A friend of mine recently passed away, I am the executor of her will.

She had cared for her adult daughter who was disabled and dependent on her mother financially as her pensions paid the mortgage and bills on the house (they lived together). The father having died many years before, it was just the two of them. My friend advised me that she believed her daughter should continue to receive a proportion of her pension on her death as she was disabled and dependent on her.

Before I approach the LGPS I’d like to give this poor woman, who is bereft at the loss of her mother, the best chance of getting this pension and securing her future.

Could anyone advise me what the exact criteria are, and also would she receive this pension for life? Or a set period? Thank you.

molerat

One of the LGPS definitions of an eligible child is

over age 23, unable to engage in gainful employment because of permanent physical or mental impairment and the child was dependent on the member at the date of death because of that impairment. An independent registered medical practitioner must give their opinion on whether the impairment is likely to be permanent.

One of the caveats for the above in the actual legislation is that they became disabled whilst a child in the usual sense. If eligible I believe the long term pension will be set at 1/3 of the member's pension but for 6 months they will receive a short term pension of the full amount.  The pension is payable until they "cease to be a child" which by the above definition will likely be never.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/1612/part/II/chapter/IV/crossheading/childrens-pensions/made

Marcon

To add to the above helpful answer, the LGPS website has a glossary which gives a bit more information in plain English on 'eligible children': https://www.lgpsmember.org/help-and-support/glossary/#eligible-child

Silvertabby

My sympathies.

This scenario is, thankfully, quite rare and so the sooner you submit the claim the sooner the (likely lengthy) process can start.

I assume that you have informed the LGPS of your friend's death?  If not, then please ring them in the morning and raise the subject of the dependant's pension.  They will supply you with a claim form and advise which documents they will require sight of (at least the death certificate and the daughter's birth certificate).  They should also be able to tell you if they will accept a report from the daughter's own GP, or if it must come from a third party.

How old was your friend and how long had she been in receipt of her pension?  The reason I ask is because there may be an entitlement to a one-off lump sum death grant in addition to any child's pension that may be awarded.  This would only apply if your friend was under 75 and had been in receipt of her pension for less than 10 years (if she left the LGPS on or after 1 April 2008) or 5 years (if she left on deferment before that date).

xylophone

She had cared for her adult daughter who was disabled and dependent on her mother financially as her pensions paid the mortgage and bills on the house (they lived together).

A very sad and worrying time for the bereaved.

Have you/executor/ the lady herself made sure that any benefit for which she may be eligible has been claimed?

Is any reduction/waiver of Council Tax available?

If there is still a mortgage on the property, has the mortgagee been advised and is there any life insurance to pay it off?