This factsheet gives an overview of the process for managing death in service benefits.

Introduction

Many occupational pension schemes include death in service benefits. The benefits are typically paid to the spouse/civil partner and/or dependants of the deceased employee if the employee dies before receiving any pension payments.

Many organisations also run Life Assurance Schemes which will result in death in service benefits being paid upon the death of an employee.

Death in service benefits are typically paid regardless of the cause of death. They are not limited to death that arises as a result of some event within the usual employment duties.