On 27 April 2020 the Government announced a life assurance scheme covering health and social care workers that sadly die as a result of COVID-19. Staff who are performing vital frontline NHS or social care work during the pandemic may be eligible for the life assurance scheme, recognising the increased risks they are currently facing.
Although this life assurance scheme may provide some needed support to the families of healthcare workers that sadly die as a result of COVID-19, this proposal does not provide any long-term financial support.
The BMA continues to lobby on removing some of the restrictions with regards to death in service benefits within the NHS pensions scheme to ensure that all scheme members’ families are entitled to a long-term dependent's pension.