Police Scotland death benefits and pension scheme: FOI release

Information requested

In relation to Police Scotland Benefits:

"1. Are death benefits for spouses dependent on additional payments being made or are they part of the basic package? By this I mean a pension payable immediately following the death of a member and for the duration of the spouse's lifetime; and a death grant of multiples of the member's salary.

2. Do spouses receive a staff group life assurance payment? Or is this a question for Police Scotland?

3. I believe that in the event of death the number of years used to calculate entitlement is extended to the member's NPA. Does this also occur with deferred membership?

4. Do spousal entitlements differ if the officer was a deferred member rather than an active member?"

Response

1. No additional payments are required for a spouse’s pension, the normal contributions paid cover this.

2. This is a question for Police Scotland.

3. No, a survivor pension for the spouse of a deferred member would just be based on the member’s deferred benefits.

4. If a member is deferred there would not be a death in service lump sum payable. A deferred member’s spouse would also not receive an initial short term pension. Furthermore as noted under question 3, a survivor pension for the spouse of a deferred member would just be based on the member’s deferred benefits.

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