ITEM PF20
PENSION FUND COMMITTEE – 27 AUGUST 2008
PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFIT
Report by Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer
Introduction
1. This report seeks Committee approval to make payment of a death benefit to a relative of a deceased scheme member in the absence of any nomination form.
Background
2. The member had deferred their benefits on leaving the scheme in 1989 and there is no recorded contact between the former scheme member and the fund until benefits became payable at age 65 in 1998.
3. There was no response to correspondence and so the file was parked until the former scheme member either contacted the fund or could be contacted. In 2007 a trace was instigated to find the former scheme member’s current address and from this trace it was established that the former scheme member had died in 1998. The copy death certificate gave details of next of kin.
4. On contacting the former scheme member’s daughter it was established that the estate had been equally divided between the deceased’s daughter and son as the only two beneficiaries of the will.
5. The former scheme member’s son moved away shortly after the estate was finalised and has not had any contact with his family since then, despite efforts to trace him.
Death Benefit
6. The death benefit due is not a large sum and since previous efforts to establish the whereabouts of the son have failed no additional resources have been allocated to this trace.
7. On this basis, the Committee is recommended that the death benefit be paid to the daughter of the deceased scheme member.
RECOMMENDATION
8. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to confirm that payment of the death benefit be made to the deceased scheme member’s daughter.
SUE SCANE Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer
Background papers: Nil
Contact Officer: Sally Fox Tel: 01865 797111
August 2008
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