When a pension member dies

Spouse or de facto reversionary benefit

A pension is payable to an eligible spouse or de facto partner of a member who dies after retirement. The pension is equal to two-thirds of the member's full pension entitlement at the date of retirement (before the member commuted any pension) plus all CPI adjustments until the date of the member's death. 

A reversionary pension is payable for the spouse or de facto partner's lifetime and is indexed to the CPI on an annual basis. 

What about a lump sum option? 

A spouse or de facto partner can commute a reversionary pension to a lump sum, provided that they elect to do so within the timeframes allowed by the scheme legislation. A spouse or de facto partner can only make one election to commute in respect of a reversionary pension. 

The time periods allowed for the commutation of a reversionary pension are: 

  • where the spouse or de facto partner is less than 55 years of age – within six months after the date of attaining age 55, or 
  • where the spouse or de facto partner is 55 years of age or older – within six months after the date of death of the pension member, or 
  • where a reversionary pension commenced before age 60 and the spouse or de facto partner has not previously made a commutation election – within six months after the date of attaining age 60. 

If a spouse or de facto partner becomes entitled to an SSS reversionary pension after age 60 and does not apply for a commutation within six months of the date of death of the pension member, there is no further opportunity to commute the reversionary pension. 

How much of the reversionary pension can be exchanged for a lump sum? 

In most cases, all of the pension payable to an eligible spouse or de facto partner can be exchanged for a lump sum, provided the application to exchange the pension for a lump sum is made within the specified time. See the section on ''What about a lump sum option?' above.

However, a pension member can nominate a specific amount of their pension they wish to exchange and receive the remaining amount as a pension. For more information, please refer to SSS Fact Sheet 14: Exchanging your pension for a lump sum.