The following information and online support resources have been collated into one place to assist Local Branches, Welfare Contacts and Members with wellbeing and support when someone dies.
England – What to do when someone dies: step by step
Wales – What to do when someone dies: step by step
Coronavirus
In the current Coronavirus pandemic, please refer to the respective Government websites and guidance-
England-What to do when someone dies during the COVID-19 pandemic
Wales- Advice for the bereaved: coronavirus
Scotland- Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance
When someone dies there are things that have to be done. This often needs doing at an incredibly difficult time when we feel least able to manage.
This guide gives practical information about where to start and what to get done first, how to register the death and how to arrange a funeral. It also covers who to tell about the death and advice about financial and emotional support that may be available.
Where possible, the information given in this guide is applicable across the UK.
When someone dies- A step-by-step guide to what to do
How we deal with death is very personal and there’s no formula. However, this guide can explain how you might be
feeling, why you might be feeling this way and some of the things that could help you now and in the future.
The loss of a relative or close friend is one of the hardest challenges many people face during their life. The sadness typically diminishes in intensity as time passes, but grieving is an important process in order to overcome these feelings and continue to embrace the time you had with your loved one.
You may well be coping with your own grief and also that of a parent or other close relative or friend. Here, we give advice for looking after both yourself and others.
A comprehensive directory offering advice, support and information covering all aspects of bereavement.
It also details contacts for some other useful organisations that may be able to assist in other ways.
This is not an exhaustive guide. Only a select few organisations and support agencies have been included.
Charities and Third Sector
Charities and third sector providers can also help and support people during this difficult time.
We are working with Marie Curie to provide information and support resources to our Members.
AtaLoss.org is a comprehensive hub of support services, information, helplines and a library of helpful reads for anyone who has been bereaved whatever their age, loss or background. Search hundreds of local, national and specialist services across the UK to find what is right for you and wherever you live. A free, professional counselling web chat service is also available.
Police Pensions
1987 Police Pension Scheme
Adult survivors under the 1987 Police Pension Scheme include widows, widowers and civil partners but not cohabitees who were not married or in a civil partnership.
See the 1987 Police Pension Guide and 1987 Police Pension Regulations for more information
2006 Police Pension Scheme
Survivor Benefit Entitlements under the New 2006 Police Pension Scheme are different than those in the 1987 PPS in that:
Adult survivors can include spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners who are not civil partners.
All adult survivor awards are payable for life, irrespective of whether the survivor remarries or forms a new partnership. If the adult survivor is also a member of NPPS he/she is still eligible for an award.
See the 2006 Pension Guide and 2006 Regulations for more information
2015 Police Pension Scheme
When you die, your ‘survivors’ (which include your spouse, civil partner, a declared partner who is not a civil partner and eligible children) may be entitled to receive benefits.
The benefits which may be payable will depend on:
- whether you die as an Active Member, a Deferred Member or a Pensioner
Member, - whether you die after you leave the police force or after you opt out; and
- the length of Qualifying Service at the date of your death.
Under the 2015 Scheme all adult survivor pensions are payable for life, irrespective of whether the survivor remarries or forms a new partnership. If the adult survivor is also a member of the 2015 Scheme he/she is still entitled to payment of an adult survivor’s benefit.
See the 2015 Pension Guide and 2015 Regulations for more information
Use this link to find your Pension Administrator:
Please note this link is a GOV.UK website You may find some of the Pension Administrators have changed.
State Pensions and Benefits
Pensions don’t automatically ‘sort themselves out’ when someone dies. It’s possible that a spouse or another beneficiary might benefit. But the amount claimed depends on the type of pension, the age of the deceased and their beneficiaries
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) helps people in England and Wales to stay in control of decisions about their health and finance and make important decisions for others who cannot decide for themselves.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Wills, Funerals and Powers of Attorney are not nice things to think about, but by arranging these things sooner, it should help your family emotionally and financially when they are needed. Please see the following Police Mutual Factsheet-
What to do if someone dies abroad
You must register a death with the local authorities in the country where the person died.
In many countries you can also register the death with the UK authorities.
These rules apply if you live in England and Wales. There are different processes in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
For further information, please see the following link-
What to if someone dies abroad
Branch best practice
We appreciate that Branches and Welfare Contacts have developed their own information and best practice based on their collective experiences of helping and supporting bereaved Members and their families.