Death of a scheme member after pension commenced

A pension benefit from SSS is payable to an eligible spouse or de facto partner of a member who dies 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 up to 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 only qualify for a benefit if there is a child of the relationship who was dependent on the deceased pension member. 

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. 

If there is no surviving spouse, de facto partner and/or children eligible to receive a reversionary pension, then all payments already made (including both commutation and pension payments) are measured against the member's lump sum withdrawal benefit at retirement. When the total of all payments made is less than the total withdrawal benefit, then the difference is paid from the scheme.

Child pensions

In certain circumstances, a pension may also be payable to eligible children of a deceased pension member. Please 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 not affected by any lump sum payment taken by their deceased spouse or partner.

The option to commute (or exchange) a spouse pension for a lump sum benefit is available at specified times. 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.