FOI 34102

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: HRC0034107/26

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 7^th October 2026. Please find below the response to your request:

I request the following counts only (no monetary amounts, no individual case data, no review outcomes) for each of the three pension categories defined below, under the Police Pensions Regulations 2015:

1. Surviving adult's pension (as defined in Regulation 136)

2. Eligible child's pension (as defined in Regulation 143)

3. Lump sum death grants (as payable under Regulations 155–156)

For the avoidance of doubt regarding category 3: I understand that lump sum death grants are payable in respect of a deceased member under Regulation 155, and that Regulation 156 establishes a hierarchy of possible recipients. I am seeking the total number of grants paid in each year, regardless of the category of recipient under Regulation 156. I am not seeking a breakdown by recipient type, and I am not seeking the count of individual beneficiaries where that differs from the count of grants.

Information Requested

1. For each of the five full financial years 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26, and for each of the three categories above, please provide the number of new awards put into payment during that financial year — that is, the number of new surviving adult's pensions, new eligible child's pensions, and new lump sum death grants paid in that year.

2. Please provide the total number of awards in payment as at 31 March 2026 for (i) surviving adult's pensions and (ii) eligible child's pensions, with separate figures for (i) and (ii).

To be clear: Q2 is not limited to awards put into payment during the five years covered by Q1. It is the total stock of awards in payment at that date, regardless of when they were first awarded.

Reply

West Mercia Police hold information in relation to your request.

1. For each of the five full financial years 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26, and for each of the three categories above, please provide the number of new awards put into payment during that financial year — that is, the number of new surviving adult's pensions, new eligible child's pensions, and new lump sum death grants paid in that year.

2. Please provide the total number of awards in payment as at 31 March 2026 for (i) surviving adult's pensions and (ii) eligible child's pensions, with separate figures for (i) and (ii).