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pension help
missk249
Posts: 156 Forumite
Hi there, newto this, site seems very helpful, so if anyone can help with this, I would appreciate some advice.
My mum has been in reciept of widows benefit and then state pension, and has ben having the following problems and I am just wondering if anyone can give us any advice.
.................................................
I have been claiming Widows Benefit from 19 July 1999 since my husband died, and then when I was 60 in 2003 I was told that I could not claim State Pension and must still claim Widows Benefit. I have since then been informed that I should have been claiming State Pension in my own right as it would give me a much better income.
The following is a BRIEF description of what has happened so far, and I am sure it is enough information for you to conduct your enquiries.
October 2006 - benefit check officer visited home address to review pension status, and confirmed that I would be better off claiming State Pension in my own right, rather than continuing with my claim for widows benefit which I received when my husband died. A claim form was filled in and I was informed that I could also claim back for the previous year, as I was given the wrong information regarding claiming State Pension in my own right when I was 60 - I was informed that I would be better off claiming Widows Benefit, but this was not the case as I was informed on this occasion.
A further meeting with BCO, resulted in me signing a form confirming that I wished to backdate my claim. I was told this would be resolved within 6 weeks and a result regarding the backdating would be made in writing.
In November, I recieved a letter from Newcastle dated 10 November, 2006, which stated I would be recieving a higher rate of Pension, as I was now claiming in my own right, State Pension, rather than the Widows benefit I was previously receiving.
In December, a call was made to Pension Service regarding the fact that the higher rate of benefit had not been paid in my November payment of benefits. I was told that this would be rectified as soon as possible, and also that the claim was being looked at into back dating from when I turned 60 years of age - this was news to me as I had only claimed a years backdated payments, but I thought this was due to being given the wrong information when i had turned 60.
Calls were then made monthly to Pension Service enquiring why I had not received the higher rate/been changed over to State Pension rather than the Widows Benefit, and on every occasion, I was assured that I would be receiving it with my next payment, backdated to when I claimed in October, and the backdating to when I was 60 was being looked at as a different case, and was being dealt with by a claims handler and specialist decision maker.
When I was no further forward in March, my grand-daughter called on the 27th and spoke to someone called ******, on extension ******, who said that there was no record of a claim ever being made, so she took the claim again, over the phone, and asked whether I would like all the money, backdated from when I was 60, in a lump sum, or spread over my future monthly payments, to which my grand-daughter confirmed I would like a lump sum of the money. **** confirmed this would be dealt with and rectified within 6 weeks.
In late April, I received a letter stating that I would be entitled to State Pension in my own right from 3rd of April 2007, and this would be backdated to 3rd of April in my next payement, which it was.
After numerous further phone calls to the Pension service regarding the backdating to when I turned 60, we are still no further forward. A gentleman called *******, extension ******, who I talked to at the begining of May, was dealing with the claim and said that the files had been lost and that he would locate these and get back to us which he did not do. A week later, I called again and was told the paperwork had been put into storage, and it would take a few weeks to retrieve this. He called and confirmed that the paperwork had been retrieved a week or so later, and that he had looked through the claim and that it had been passed to a specialist decision maker, and we should hear within 2-3 weeks of the outcome regarding the backdating of the claim.
At the begining of July when we still had not heard anything, I again called *****, who assured me it was being looked into and that I would definitely be hearing very soon regarding the decision that would be made.
It is now August, and still no further forward, and when I tried to contact *****, I was informed he had left his job with the Pension Service.
I have spoken to people called ******, and ****** who were helpful and understood my claim, but they had to pass this on to another section who would deal with it properly, and I recieved a call back from a **** ****** who basically said that the claim was irrelevant and that I had been paid all that I was due from when I was awarded State Pension on 3rd April.
** I have copied this from the records we have been keeping to keep ourselves right when going through all the complaints etc, and have removed names etc so to imply that it was these people who have messed this all up, as I do not think it is just one person who is to blame for the whole situation.
My mum has been in reciept of widows benefit and then state pension, and has ben having the following problems and I am just wondering if anyone can give us any advice.
.................................................
I have been claiming Widows Benefit from 19 July 1999 since my husband died, and then when I was 60 in 2003 I was told that I could not claim State Pension and must still claim Widows Benefit. I have since then been informed that I should have been claiming State Pension in my own right as it would give me a much better income.
The following is a BRIEF description of what has happened so far, and I am sure it is enough information for you to conduct your enquiries.
October 2006 - benefit check officer visited home address to review pension status, and confirmed that I would be better off claiming State Pension in my own right, rather than continuing with my claim for widows benefit which I received when my husband died. A claim form was filled in and I was informed that I could also claim back for the previous year, as I was given the wrong information regarding claiming State Pension in my own right when I was 60 - I was informed that I would be better off claiming Widows Benefit, but this was not the case as I was informed on this occasion.
A further meeting with BCO, resulted in me signing a form confirming that I wished to backdate my claim. I was told this would be resolved within 6 weeks and a result regarding the backdating would be made in writing.
In November, I recieved a letter from Newcastle dated 10 November, 2006, which stated I would be recieving a higher rate of Pension, as I was now claiming in my own right, State Pension, rather than the Widows benefit I was previously receiving.
In December, a call was made to Pension Service regarding the fact that the higher rate of benefit had not been paid in my November payment of benefits. I was told that this would be rectified as soon as possible, and also that the claim was being looked at into back dating from when I turned 60 years of age - this was news to me as I had only claimed a years backdated payments, but I thought this was due to being given the wrong information when i had turned 60.
Calls were then made monthly to Pension Service enquiring why I had not received the higher rate/been changed over to State Pension rather than the Widows Benefit, and on every occasion, I was assured that I would be receiving it with my next payment, backdated to when I claimed in October, and the backdating to when I was 60 was being looked at as a different case, and was being dealt with by a claims handler and specialist decision maker.
When I was no further forward in March, my grand-daughter called on the 27th and spoke to someone called ******, on extension ******, who said that there was no record of a claim ever being made, so she took the claim again, over the phone, and asked whether I would like all the money, backdated from when I was 60, in a lump sum, or spread over my future monthly payments, to which my grand-daughter confirmed I would like a lump sum of the money. **** confirmed this would be dealt with and rectified within 6 weeks.
In late April, I received a letter stating that I would be entitled to State Pension in my own right from 3rd of April 2007, and this would be backdated to 3rd of April in my next payement, which it was.
After numerous further phone calls to the Pension service regarding the backdating to when I turned 60, we are still no further forward. A gentleman called *******, extension ******, who I talked to at the begining of May, was dealing with the claim and said that the files had been lost and that he would locate these and get back to us which he did not do. A week later, I called again and was told the paperwork had been put into storage, and it would take a few weeks to retrieve this. He called and confirmed that the paperwork had been retrieved a week or so later, and that he had looked through the claim and that it had been passed to a specialist decision maker, and we should hear within 2-3 weeks of the outcome regarding the backdating of the claim.
At the begining of July when we still had not heard anything, I again called *****, who assured me it was being looked into and that I would definitely be hearing very soon regarding the decision that would be made.
It is now August, and still no further forward, and when I tried to contact *****, I was informed he had left his job with the Pension Service.
I have spoken to people called ******, and ****** who were helpful and understood my claim, but they had to pass this on to another section who would deal with it properly, and I recieved a call back from a **** ****** who basically said that the claim was irrelevant and that I had been paid all that I was due from when I was awarded State Pension on 3rd April.
** I have copied this from the records we have been keeping to keep ourselves right when going through all the complaints etc, and have removed names etc so to imply that it was these people who have messed this all up, as I do not think it is just one person who is to blame for the whole situation.
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Comments
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You need an independent pensions/benefits expert to look at the paperwork etc., and sort out what the situation is, as it would be impossible to give advice over the net.
These people will refer you to someone:
http://www.clsdirect.org.uk/index.jsp
Lin
You can tell a lot about a woman by her hands..........for instance, if they are placed around your throat, she's probably slightly upset.
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Hi, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
They only deal with England and Wales unfortunately, do you know who would be able to help in Scotland please?0 -
It's certainly a fact that a woman who has paid enough NI contributions (or had them credited, or earned Home Responsibilities Protection) can be better off claiming her own State Retirement Pension. With SRP there may be some SERPS/S2P which you don't get claiming under your husband's contributions.
This happened to me when I was widowed in 1992 aged 57. The change-over to State Retirement Pension from Widow's Benefit was, for me, seamless and painless. I can't understand why all the complications and difficulties that you quote.
Best wishes
Margaret[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 -
We thought it would be an easy change over too, and she had worked since she was 15 untill she had to take early retirement for health reasonsat 54 and was widowed at 55.
It just seems to be one of the unfortunate cases where nothing goes right. She has had no problems whatsoever with other benefits (relating to her illness) and thats why we are a bit shocked and a bit upset with the mess of the pension carry on.
I am going to call pension liason services tomorrow and see if I can get anywhere with that, and then if not will try and find out more about the "scottish version" of what Morglin suggested if I get no where fast.
Just need to keep my patience as I can be very quick tempered, although after nearly a year of trying to sort this out, I am sure I can keep calm for just a little bit longer.
Thanks again for the replies.0 -
Hi, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
They only deal with England and Wales unfortunately, do you know who would be able to help in Scotland please?
Scottish Legal Aid Board 0845 122 8686. They will be able to give them details of local advisers, but do not give advice themselves.0 -
Thanks for that! Will give them a call tomorrow 0
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as I was given the wrong information regarding claiming State Pension in my own right when I was 60 - I was informed that I would be better off claiming Widows Benefit, but this was not the case as I was informed on this occasion.
Ok, this could be very important. When your mother was 60 who told her it would be best to stay on Widows Benefit?
If someone at the DWP advised her to stay on the benefit rather than claim her own pension and she is now worse off, she could possibly claim misdirection or even appeal against the decision (i think it may be too late to appeal, but they may allow an exception).0 -
It was someone at the pension service who told her this.
She called just after she turned 60 ( a week or so after ) to ask for a review, and without being given the review, she was told she would be better off on WB, so really, she was refused a review, so it is their fault I would think?0 -
It sounds as though she has been misinformed, but you need someone to look at it all. Hopefully, the Scottish Legal Aid people will be able to refer you to an expert.
Lin You can tell a lot about a woman by her hands..........for instance, if they are placed around your throat, she's probably slightly upset.0 -
Just thought I would update you all on this one.....
Mum recieved almost £600 in back payments for past year and a half due to their mistake, and Because she was misinfomed, her case has been passed to a "specialist" who can decide whether or not she can have payments back until she turned 60, from a "special fund" sorry, cant remember exact names of the specialist and fund, but thanks for the info that you all contibuted
Even if she doesnt get the back payment of 3 years, atleast she is recieving the correct amount now, and got the payment for the previous year.
It was a lot of hard work, but getting there eventually
Thanks again
x0
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