About Your Benefits

Dependants’ pension

If you are a former contributor who paid family benefit contributions a spouse’s pension will be paid as of right if on your death you leave a legal widow, widower or civil partner. If you were to die without leaving a widow, widower or civil partner but there was someone other than a child who was financially dependant on you at the date of your death, the Trustees, at their discretion, may award a pension to that person. The pension will be the same amount as the widow/er’s pension. This discretion means the Trustees can recognise partners of either sex and dependant relatives providing they were financially dependant on you. The Trustees can review any discretionary award of pension they make under these arrangements in the light of changes in the dependant’s circumstances.

Each year we have a number of cases referred to the Discretions and Appeals Sub-committee where unmarried members have died and where a claim for Adult Dependant’s Allowance is made. Any award of benefits is at the discretion of the Sub-committee. The normal process is that a visit to the claimant is made by a representative of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) to gather evidence of the relationship and financial dependency. It is always helpful if the administration office already has information on file and unmarried members who have an adult dependant are encouraged to write to the administration office setting out the nature of their relationship and any wishes in respect of their pension.