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death and lost pension

grahamO
Posts: 1 Newbie
My wife passed away in April 2008, I received Bereavement pension benefit from HMRC for two years after her death then nothing, all other contributions to her state pension have now been stopped and I have been informed by HMRC that I cannot claim anything more from her pension pot as it was her pension not mine and there is no more to claim, so what has happened to her lifetime of contributions? has it disappeared into the general government, in other words stolen? I find this an unfair and an iniquitous way of making money out of an honest person's lifetime of contributions disappear, at the very least our children would benefit from the stolen contributions and the two years of Bereavement benefit received does not cover all the contributions she made in her lifetime. Is there anyone in a similar position and is there anything more that I can do to reclaim her pension?
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Comments
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I am sorry for your loss.
There was no pot that was put aside for your wife, the current tax contributions would go to pay for her pension. Unfortunately, those that die early help balance out those that live longer than the normal life expectancy.Thinking critically since 1996....0 -
You dont seem to understand pensions....
You pay your money in and the state guarantees to pay you an income from State Pension Age until you die no matter how long that would be. Those who die early lose out and those who reach an old age win. Its like any other insurance scheme - those who dont have a car accident subsidise those who do, you cant ask for your premiums back if you happen not to have an accident. Would you prefer a scheme whereby the government said to you at say an age of 90, "sorry you've used up your contributions we cant pay you any more"?0 -
The current system pays out less and only on a short timescale to those that lose their partner before retirement age - but at least payments are made to men and women alike when formally they were paid to women only.
You don't state your own age which might be useful for further advice.0 -
I am sorry to hear of your loss, but this is how the system works. It's how any insurance system works. Those who don't live long enough to take their pensions subsidise those who do. You could live until you are 90 and effectively benefit from her payments.'Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.' George Carlin0
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Additional state pensions are currently inheritable from a deceased partner's contributions when the survivor reaches state pension age, providing the partner has not remarried or formed a new civil partnership. This would be at 50% for grad and SSP, and 50-100% for SERPS depending on birthdate of the contributor.0
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Additional state pensions are currently inheritable from a deceased partner's contributions when the survivor reaches state pension age, providing the partner has not remarried or formed a new civil partnership. This would be at 50% for grad and SSP, and 50-100% for SERPS depending on birthdate of the contributor.
This is true, but it does depend on the deceased person having had an earned income on which the SERPS/S2P was based. If the OP's wife didn't work or didn't earn enough for SERPS/S2P, then this doesn't apply.[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Æ[/FONT]r ic wisdom funde, [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]æ[/FONT]r wear[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ð[/FONT] ic eald.
Before I found wisdom, I became old.0 -
Correct but the OP comments suggest that his wife worked and paid NI towards a pension entitlement.0
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I find this an unfair and an iniquitous way of making money out of an honest person's lifetime of contributions disappear
There are no contributions as such to the state pension. Tax and NI doesnt build up a personal pot of money. The Govt pay a state pension based on qualification. That state pension is paid to the individual. Not their children. The children qualify for a state pension in their own right.at the very least our children would benefit from the stolen contributions
What contributions?
I cannot imagine what the tax would be if the Govt had to pay out pensions forever on anyone that has ever lived. Ultimately though, there would be more paid out than coming in and it would bankrupt the country.Correct but the OP comments suggest that his wife worked and paid NI towards a pension entitlement.
You pay tax and NI. Part of that gives you an entitlement to a defined benefit for your lifetime. i.e. the state pension. However, there is no pot of money for the individual.I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.0 -
Correct but the OP comments suggest that his wife worked and paid NI towards a pension entitlement.
Ooops, I missed that bit. However, NI contributions don't only go towards an individual's retirement pension.[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Æ[/FONT]r ic wisdom funde, [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]æ[/FONT]r wear[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ð[/FONT] ic eald.
Before I found wisdom, I became old.0 -
No but that is what is relevant here. Of course she could have paid only the married woman's rate or for that matter been contracted out or been self-employed when working but we don't (yet) know.0
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