Widow's entitlement

myrnahaz

My son's MIL is 59 and was widowed in 2001.

Her late husband worked for BP for over 20 years, and she thinks that he was part of their pension scheme but doesn't have any evidence or documents.
I think he was just 60 years old when he died, and had left BP a year or so previously when he became ill, so he hadn't started drawing his BP pension (if it even exists) - she assumes it 'died' with him, so she's never tried to claim it.

I've found the address of the BP pension scheme, and also found details that confirm her widow's entitlement to 50% - I have drafted a letter for her to send to them but wondered if there was anything I needed to include (other than name, DOB, NINO etc).

dunstonh

previous addresses as well as NI and DOB in case she has moved and they still hold the old details. If there are only old payslips or P60 then they would have an employee reference number. It may just help a little. Death certificate to provide evidence of death (or they wont be able to talk to her in detail).

That should be enough to help them trace. Most of the time NI number is the key thing though.

myrnahaz

Thanks - I hadn't thought of payslips and P60's.

tawl_2

just reading in between the lines:

- you said left BP because he was ill. he could have been entitled to an ill-health early retirement pension! these can sometimes be more generous than normal early-retirement.

- if the pension was already in payment, surviving spouse as well as receiving a spouse pension, can get what is called 'a five year guarantee' i.e. in this case, possibly 4yrs worth of pension as a lump sum!

- it is possible that you are entitled to a 'return of contributions'.

Errata

Don't forget the MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE ! Sorry for caps, just wanted to make sure it wasn't missed

My personal experience of BP Pension staff is that they are very, very helpful. They may sometimes be a bit 'slow and steady' but they are thorough.

myrnahaz

Thanks for your replies. It turns out that her late husband wasn't employed directly by BP but contracted to them via another company, so he may not even have joined a pension scheme. However, she called the State Pension people for advice and they're going to send her a 'pack' (forms, presumably) that she can fill-in and return, and they'll do a trace on his NINO to see if any private pension exists.
She's a little depressed at the moment, and living on £58 per week (she's never worked as she brought up 7 children and then had a sick husband) so she's had no experience/qualifications and has had absolutely no luck in finding a job other than poorly paid cleaning jobs. I feel bad at raising her hopes and hope I haven't sent her on a wild goose chase after something that doesn't exist.

Pee

Get her to look into benefit entitlement if this is a wild goose chase.

Now is not a good time to be looking for a job, but encourage her to look at voluntary work in an aea she likes - i.e. a charity shop may lead to a shop assistant somewhere else.

Cleaning jobs aren't always poorly paid and could she advertise herself as a babysitter? What about a residential home? I worked in one and really enjoyed it. the cleaning jobs there may be poorly paid, but it would get her out of the house and meeting people who she could help.

0rchidea

I assume she has been claiming Widows Pension? That should be more than £58 per week. I was never told it, or any financial aid existed (I was 53 when widowed), and lost out on a massive amount of money. Her state pension should (like me) be based on her late husbands payments and stamps for the rest of her life.

seven-day-weekend

When she is 60 she can claim Pension Credit and have a minimum of £130

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensioncredit/entitled.asp

She may also get her Council tax paid and rent if she is renting.

tawl_2

just did some research on this, i think she is entitled to either of the following benefits:

(a) Widowed Parent's Allowance (WPA)

If you're a parent whose husband, wife or civil partner has died and you have a dependent child or young person (aged 16 and under 20) for whom you receive Child Benefit, you may be able to get Widowed Parent's Allowance (WPA).

can get £95.25 per week if eligible

further info from direct.gov website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Bereaved/DG_10018848

or

(b) Bereavement Allowance (BA)


After you're widowed you may be able to claim Bereavement Allowance, the taxable weekly benefit paid to you for up to 52 weeks from the date of death of your husband, wife or civil partner.

similar amount if eligible and over 55

more info on this: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Bereaved/DG_10018684

both payable until state pension age and you can't claim both at the same time.

links are quite good and it describes quite well if eligible for these benefits.

hope this helps

jem16

tawl wrote: »

(b) Bereavement Allowance (BA)


After you're widowed you may be able to claim Bereavement Allowance, the taxable weekly benefit paid to you for up to 52 weeks from the date of death of your husband, wife or civil partner.

Except she was widowed in 2001, so I think she might be just out of time.

My son's MIL is 59 and was widowed in 2001.

She may already be receiving a Widows' pension - it was replaced in April 2001 by WPA so depends when in 2001 she was widowed.