Widows Benefits

jamiedavies02

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong place.

Sadly last weekend my grandfather passed away aged 80 and leaving my grandmother living her on her own.

I would like some information on any financial help that my grandmother may now be entitled to.

My grandparents own their own home and they have a small amount of money in ISAs, all of which is in the process of being transferred into my grandmothers name. Neither of my grandparents recieve any benfits other than their state pension and my grandfathers private works pension which has now stopped.

Any help appreciated.

xylophone

Type pension credit age uk into Google - links are there.

Shimrod

jamiedavies02 wrote: »

Neither of my grandparents recieve any benfits other than their state pension and my grandfathers private works pension which has now stopped.

If the private works pension is from a final salary scheme, there would normally be a spouse's pension due. The way it works in our scheme (and I guess most others) is that your grandfather's pension would cease payment, and a new pension with the reduced benefits set up for your grandmother. It would be worth checking if this is the case here
If the pension was a result of an annuity purchase, then it would be a case of checking whether a spouse's pension was included at time of purchase.

jamiedavies02

My grandfathers private works pension is up, he got a lump sum when he retired, and then £x per month for the rest of his life

atush

But some of them have a Spousal pension benefit. So you need to check with them if that is the case or not.

If there will be no private pension for sure, that is information you will need for the pension credit/age UK help.

anmarj

state pension for your grandmother will change, there will be elements that she can inherit, once the death has been reported to the DWP they will look at this automatically, but she will continue to receive her own pension until the conversion is done

Arthurian

https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/bereavement
Gives useful information on what benefits may be available - funeral payment, bereavement payment, bereavement allowance, etc.

sleepless_saver

Arthurian wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/bereavement
Gives useful information on what benefits may be available - funeral payment, bereavement payment, bereavement allowance, etc.

Don't think any of these will be available as the widow is over pension age and has savings.

As well as the possibility of pension credit mentioned by other posters, if she now lives alone she should be entitled to 25% council tax discount. (If her income turns out to be low enough she may also get council tax benefit).

jamiedavies02

Thanks.

I've just downloaded the Pension Credit Form and Council Tax Benefit Form. Anything else she could be entitled to?

Mojisola

jamiedavies02 wrote: »

I've just downloaded the Pension Credit Form and Council Tax Benefit Form. Anything else she could be entitled to?

Often, couple support each other and it's only when one dies that any care needs the survivor has come to light.

If she does have any care needs, look into Attendance Allowance. This isn't means tested so doesn't have any detrimental effect on other benefits and isn't affected by income.