Fairer survivor benefits - Changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – Access and Fairness 2026

The Government has introduced changes to the LGPS to make the Scheme fairer for all members. Most changes took effect from 1 April 2026, and some improvements apply retrospectively.

The LGPS provides valuable benefits when you die. Your spouse, civil partner or eligible cohabiting partner will receive a part of your pension – this is paid as a survivor pension. It will be paid for the rest of their life. 

From 1 April 2026, survivor pensions will be calculated more consistently to ensure equal treatment regardless of the sex of the member or their survivor. 

Some survivor pensions will be increased as more of the member’s service before April 2014 will now count. Some survivor pensions will become payable for the first time - this is most likely to affect male survivors of female members who left the LGPS before April 1988. 

The changes apply to deaths dating back to: 

• 5 December 2005 for opposite sex marriages and same sex civil partnerships
• 13 March 2014 for same sex marriages
• 31 December 2019 for opposite sex civil partnerships

Some cohabiting partners pensions may also increase if the member died between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2014.

If you already receive a surviving partner’s pension and you are affected by the change, your pension will increase and we will pay you backdated arrears with interest.  We will contact you in due course, if you are affected.

Action: If you don’t currently receive a surviving partners pension and think these changes could affect you, contact: pensions@powys.gov.uk , or call: 01597 826463.