State pension after death

Technosaurus

Afternoon all. Long time reader, first time poster.

My parents passed away in quick succession in the summer, both in their 60's but pensionable age. Because of the proximity of the deaths, my brother and I knew exactly what to do 'second time around', ie after Mum passed away, so all the "admin" was done relatively quickly and efficiently. This included closing her bank account the day after she died, pretty much straight after registering the death as it was round the corner from the registry.

However when receiving the closing bank statement we noticed that 2 pension payments were returned the day after we closed it. This is perfectly reasonable - I simply chased up with the Private pension provider who sent a cheque to the estate for the month she was entitled to (pro-rata'd down by one day for the month) and then her account was closed. However having sent a letter to the State Pension service, I have heard nothing back.

Is this something we can claim? It's not a huge amount of money but if it was money that my mother was due less than 24 hours after she died (and had paid into all her life), it seems slightly unfair that due to our own efficiency in closing the bank account that we will miss out on the money? Had we taken a week to do it (as we had for Dad) then it would have been in the account, surely? Is it case of 'sorry, she's deceased now' or is this worth chasing with the State Pension service?

Thanks in advance.

wwl

IME pension companies are used to dealing with this sort of thing and helpful so give them a call. In addition to any payment due, make sure you get final P60s for the current tax year, as you get a whole year tax allowance for the year of death, so there's a good chance the estate will be owed some income tax if any has been paid on the pension payments.

Technosaurus

Thanks - we got a cheque for Income Tax overpayment about a month after we registered the death (on the TellUsOnce service) without any prompting. I'm not sure how much HMRC/DWP departments talk to each other so thought that might have been their way of saying it's the end of the matter. I'll try on the helpline tomorrow morning and let this thread know if anything happens. Not sure where my letter from September has been, mind... hoping a call sorts it. Thanks.

missbiggles1

When my husband died recently, DWP were exceptionally helpful so do give them a ring.

Rodders53

State pension is generally paid in arrears but may also be paid weekly in advance in some cases. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3753305 So it may depend on payment frequency and when pension staeted as to whether anything is owed either way? I think they only deal in complete weeks to make the calculations easier.

DWP will chase you for any overpayment made; have no worries about that! They were so keen to recover M-i-L's overpayment they managed to claw it back from her CLOSED bank account and wrote, more than once, demanding it from us direct!

greenglide

For anyone who has been receiving a State Pension for a while, which is likely in the case of a death like this, then the pension is probably paid in advance. If it was paid in advance and was paid weekly there would be no arrears. If paid four weekly there probably would be death arrears to pay.

The comment "twenty four hours after her death" does raise the question. If you mean she died the day before her payday and she was paid weekly in advance she will missed out on payment from that week by one day. If she was overpaid, which is very possible if the DWP do not find out Immediately they will eventually attempt to recover the money.

Currently State Pension is paid in whole weeks in the case of death but this changes for anyone with an SPa date after 5/4/2016 when entitlement ends on the date of death. Such cases are always paid in arrears so the situation is probably no worse than now.

If you ring the pensions service there is a separate option on their phone menu and the service I have received recently in the case of two family bereavements has been excellent.

brewerdave

We didn't think any SP was due when my mother died in October ....however it transpired that the estate was owed one week (the complete week of the date of death).We filled in a form sent to us and the pension owed was paid into the designated account within two weeks.We also received a Winter fuel payment as she died after the qualifying date which seemed even crazier!!

Technosaurus

Greenglide - thanks. My Mum was only 65 when she died so had only been collecting State Pension for a short time, and the amount in question is just over £500 so I suspect it's a monthly payment.

I'll give them a ring today and see what's what. Every little helps etc.

greenglide

So it is four weekly - State Pension isnt paid monthly.

If she reached State Pension Age after 5/4/2010 then she will have been paid in arrears unless she was already in receipt of another benefit but 4 weekly payment would make it eminently possible that arrears may be due.

Good luck.

Technosaurus

Just to say a huge 'thank you' to all involved here - just got £526 back from the DWP... Thanks for all help.