The Church of England Pensions Regulations 1988

Pensions for children

15.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, where a scheme member who has performed a qualifying period of pensionable service dies on or after the date on which these regulations come into force leaving a child who has not attained the age of eighteen, the child shall be entitled to receive from the Board a pension of the following amount, that is to say—

(a) if the scheme member dies leaving a widow or widower, a pension equal to one sixth of the deceased scheme member’s pension, or

(b) if the scheme member did not leave a widow or widower or if the widow or widower is dead, a pension equal to one third of the deceased scheme member’s pension.

(2) The aggregate of the pensions that may be granted to the children of a scheme member under this regulation shall not exceed the deceased member’s pension after deducting therefrom any pension payable to the widow or widower under regulation 14, and where by virtue of the preceding provision of this paragraph the amount available for pensions for the children of a scheme member is less than the aggregate of the pensions which, but for that provision, would be payable to the children, then the amount of the pension to which each child is entitled shall be determined by dividing the available amount between the children equally.

(3) Any pension under this regulation shall cease to be payable on the date on which the child attains the age of eighteen except that if after that date the child is receiving full-time instruction at an educational establishment or is undergoing full-time training for a trade, profession or vocation, the child shall, subject to paragraphs (5) and (6) below, be entitled to receive that pension while receiving that instruction or undergoing that training.

(4) Where a scheme member dies leaving a child who has attained the age of eighteen and is receiving full-time instruction at an educational establishment or undergoing full-time training for a trade, profession or vocation, the child shall, subject to paragraphs (5) and (6) below, be entitled to receive any pension to which he would have been entitled if he had not attained the age of eighteen at the date of the scheme member’s death.

(5) No pension shall be paid to any child by virtue of paragraph (3) or (4) above unless the instruction or training concerned has been approved by the Board.

(6) No pension shall be paid to a child in respect of any period after the 30th June next following the attainment by the child of the age of twenty-three.

(7) The Board may if they think fit in exceptional circumstances grant a pension to a child notwithstanding that the deceased scheme member had performed less than two years' pensionable service.

(8) The Board may if they think fit discontinue the payment of a pension to a child of a deceased scheme member if the widow or widower of that member re-marries and may if they think fit resume the payment of that pension.