Fathers pension after death

mitchino

I have a query I hope someone can shed some light on. My father received a pension from Edinburgh University after early retirement due to ill health (he had progessive MS). He receieved this pension for many years and died in 1999. I always thought my mother was now receiving this pension until her death, but she has recently told me it ended when he died. She is now struggling financially at 86, and I'm looking for ways I can help her out. Is it correct that his pension would just end upon his death? I thought it would normally be passed to the spouse? I have asked a few friends who work for Edinburgh University and they tell me their pensions automatically get passed to the surviving spouse.

How can I investigate this further? It would make a huge difference to my mother's future if I could prove she has been give a raw deal in this matter.

General_Grant

Was he an academic or a senior administrator? If he was then I would expect that Universities Superannuation Scheme were responsible for paying his pension. You could contact them in Liverpool or contact the University's own HR department.

missbiggles1

http://www.uss.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.uss.co.uk/Guides%20and%20Booklets/Guide%20for%20Members%20FS.pdf

http://www.uss.co.uk/Factsheet%20List/Factsheet%207-%20Pensions%20for%20Dependants%20FS.pdf

xylophone

This is very odd.

Was your father a member of the USS? Or even LGPS? Presumably the administrators were advised of your father's death by his widow.

It would be truly extraordinary if they failed to communicate with his widow about his pension.

It also seems strange that your mother did not query the matter at the time - with your father's ill health, surely they would have discussed his pension provision? Do you have any papers relating to your father's financial affairs? Is it possible that insurance policies could have been overlooked?

If it should turn out that there is no entitlement to a pension, and your mother is on a low income, is she entitled to guarantee pension credit and other benefits?

mitchino

My father was a veterinary surgeon, when his MS got too bad to allow him to work in the field, he got a job at Edinburgh University, I think lecturing, but possible in research.

The big problem is that my mother doesn't want to look into this, I think she finds it all too emotional. She just says he had a pension that ended when he died and "that's that".

Maybe that is the case, but I've had so many people say to me "That can't be right", that I thought I'd try and investigate a bit.

I don't have access to my father's papers and I think I'll upset my mother if I go digging.

Marmaduke123

Perhaps you could contact the pension provider as suggested above. The rules may well have changed since your father was in the scheme, so I'm not sure it would be helpful to look at the current rules.

I'm an NHS pensioner, and my surviving spouse will be entitled to quite a small pension payment after my death. It doesn't happen automatically though, it has to be applied for. Going back many years I think it's perfectly possible that there might be no surviving spouse pension.

xylophone

Your father was a highly qualified professional man - did he have a private pension? Had he made provision for his widow?

He was a lecturer so a member of the USS? He joined in middle age but clearly accrued benefits if he received an early pension on the grounds of ill health.

I cannot think of any defined benefits scheme that I've come across that didn't provide a widow's benefit - it may be worth your checking with the University's Pension Scheme Administrators.

Is your mother receiving all benefits to which she is entitled? You have checked that her state pension has been correctly calculated?

Would she qualify for a grant from any professional association to which your father was affiliated?

teddysmum

I wonder whether the spouse's reduced pension is forfeited , if the pension is taken early and possibly paid at a higher rate, due to ill health.

System

Hi

Well this is not easy, but if you were to ask the pension administrators they may give a clue.

It is possible the pension was suspended, and no death certificate and other paperwork processed.
When I was with the LGPS it was classified as "Living Dead" usually where no-one had been able to claim or process the estate fully.

Check as to who tidied up his estate and perhaps there may be clues there.

Also a death certificate and covering letter may help if sent to the USS.

kidmugsy

Most universities of any age have (at least) two pension schemes, USS for academics and equivalents, and their own one for assistant staff. USS certainly pays a widow's pension as long as they know the widow exists. I'd be surprised if the university assistant's scheme didn't pay a widow's pension too.

Here's a link to the fine array of pensions at Edinburgh. If he worked at the !!!!!! Vet then you can probably ignore all but USS and the staff scheme.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/finance/pensions/scheme-details

In your shoes I'd begin by phoning the university. Long ago when I had dealings with it the uni was run by a cadre of able middle-aged women who were excellent. Now it's probably fallen into the hands of "HR professionals" but you never know, you might find a good one.

Here's a link to the staff scheme.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/finance/pensions/scheme-details/sbs

mitchino

Thanks for all the help.

My mother tracked down some documents for me.

I have the last payment advice slip which tells me he was on an annual pension of £5741.52. He was paid £478.46 minus 23.08 PAYE for his last payment in July 1999.

Under payments it is listed as an 'Ex Gratia Pension'. My mother thinks that means his pension was just a goodwill gesture?

I also have a letter from Edinburgh University saying "We are sorry to learn of the death of your husband etc etc" - "The pension which was being paid to him will now cease, but I shall make sure that any small balance of pension due to you will be paid"

Opinions please!