Death of a scheme member after retirement

A pension benefit from SSS is payable to an eligible spouse or de facto partner of a member who dies after retirement while on a scheme pension. Generally the pension is equal to two-thirds of the pension member's full pension entitlement at retirement plus CPI adjustments until the date of death.

Generally, a spouse or de facto partner of a deceased pension member will qualify for a benefit if they were the pension member's spouse or de facto partner before the deceased pension member retired, and remained so until the pension member's death. In the case of an invalidity pension member, the applicant will qualify if they were the spouse or de facto partner before the pension member reached their normal retirement age and at least three years before the pension member's death.

If the relationship commenced after the deceased pension member retired, a spouse or de facto partner of a deceased pension member will qualify for a benefit only if there is a child of the relationship who was dependent on the deceased pension member.

Where the deceased was an invalidity pension member, the spouse or de facto partner will qualify for a benefit if they were in a relationship before the pension member reached their normal retirement age and for at least three years before the pension member's death.

For more detailed information about eligibility, see the section 'Who is eligible for the spouse or de facto partner's benefit' in SSS Fact Sheet 11: Death of a scheme member after retirement.

Child pensions

In certain circumstances, a pension may also be payable to eligible children of a deceased pension member. Please see Child Pensions or refer to SSS Fact Sheet 12: Child pensions.

Reversionary benefits and commutations

Under the scheme rules, a reversionary pension entitlement is payable regardless of whether the pension member commuted (exchanged for a lump sum) all or part of their pension. Similarly, the surviving spouse or partner's right to commute their pension to a lump sum is also unaffected by any lump sum payment taken by their deceased spouse or partner.

The option to commute (or exchange) a spouse pension to a lump sum benefit is available at specified times (see Commuting or exchanging a pension for a lump sum). Pensions are adjusted annually in line with movements in the Consumer Price (All Groups Sydney) Index.

For additional information, please refer to SSS Fact Sheet 11: Death of a scheme member after retirement.