Inheriting parent's pension

zagfles

SplinterCell wrote: »

This is the exact article I have just been looking at. It details the recent changes which suggests that pensions can be inherited.

My dad's pension (as far as I am aware) has remained completely untouched.

Some can, some can't, like the article says. Depends on what type of pension it is.

To trace it see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bigger-and-better-pension-tracing-service-ready-to-help it doesn't say they deal with bereaved relatives but would imagine they do.

greenglide

Do you mean his State Pension has not been claimed?

If so then then there are rules around what is, essentially, a deferred pensions when someone dies before claiming and a surviving spouse would inherit but "inheritance" of state pension means addition of part of it to the spouses pension. A surviving child could only get any arrears which would form part of the estate.

So who handled his estate and subsequently your mother's estate?

SplinterCell

zagfles wrote: »

Some can, some can't, like the article says. Depends on what type of pension it is.

To trace it see link removed it doesn't say they deal with bereaved relatives but would imagine they do.

This is very helpful. Thank you.

comeandgo

Any years towards the state pension are gone, children cannot gain anything from state pension. There may be something if he had private pensions he paid into. Also, was he employed at time of death? My work pays out an insurance to my children if I die whilst in their employment.

SplinterCell

greenglide wrote: »

Do you mean his State Pension has not been claimed?

If so then then there are rules around what is, essentially, a deferred pensions when someone dies before claiming and a surviving spouse would inherit but "inheritance" of state pension means addition of part of it to the spouses pension. A surviving child could only get any arrears which would form part of the estate.

So who handled his estate and subsequently your mother's estate?

Yes, the state pension - although an earlier poster mentioned that state pensions cannot be inherited at all. I suppose the person that has handled my parents estate has been me, although I have no legal documents stating that I am officially responsible. I've just dealt with their affairs since there was no one else to do it.

SplinterCell

comeandgo wrote: »

Any years towards the state pension are gone, children cannot gain anything from state pension. There may be something if he had private pensions he paid into. Also, was he employed at time of death? My work pays out an insurance to my children if I die whilst in their employment.

I see. My dad was unemployed at the time of his death. He had been unemployed for several years, but had worked for an engineering company for 16 years prior to quitting.

MissLC

Firstly go to gov.uk/find-lost-pension to trace the pensions. You will need to know the rough dates he was employed with the company. If you don't know but know the name of the company a Google search would be a good place to start instead.

Depending on the type of pension your father had will depend on any benefits due. The pension scheme should be able to advise you once you contacted them.

SplinterCell

MissLC wrote: »

Firstly go to gov.uk/find-lost-pension to trace the pensions. You will need to know the rough dates he was employed with the company. If you don't know but know the name of the company a Google search would be a good place to start instead.

Depending on the type of pension your father had will depend on any benefits due. The pension scheme should be able to advise you once you contacted them.

Thanks for the tip. I think the tracing service might be my best bet going forward.

anmarj

State pension is only inheritable between spouses, and would of only paid out at state pension age had your mum reached that age before she died.

patanne

A question to ask yourself could be - my father has not worked for several years, what has he been living on? Is it possible he took a pension early due to ill health? In which case it is unlikely there is anything available there. Have you checked on his bank accounts to see his ins & outs? You could try googling my lost bank account. Be aware that, unless you choose to do so, you are not responsible for his debts. Is it possible your mother's estate is due a widow's pension for the year she outlived him? Sorry lots of questions & I know no answers, but hopefully some routes for you to follow