Deceased Pension Retrieval

Mosef41

Hello, I hope you can help.

My father passed away in January and the DWP Debt Management service has contacted me to retrieve payments made. I completely understand that any payments to my dad after his death are due back but they are claiming for three weeks worth of payments before his death. I would thought he would be entitled to all payments up until the day he passed away and the entitlement ends.

Has anyone else been through a similar situation and can offer any advice?

Thanks in advance,
Mo

McKneff

Its very likely to be something like he would have been paid his pension in advance.
Its normal for the DWP to ask or it back.

Mosef41

McKneff wrote: »

Its very likely to be something like he would have been paid his pension in advance.
Its normal for the DWP to ask or it back.

Thanks for your reply but I'm not sure you've understood what I am asking. Thanks anyway

McKneff

He may have got a months payment and then passed away just a week into the month, so owes 3 weeks back...... just another way of saying what i said above.

Is that not what you are asking.?

Mosef41

Thanks I appreciate you are trying to help. The DWP are asking for repayment of pension payments before my father passed away. I am expecting the scenario you outline - paying back any money received which he is not entitled to as he is no longer living. However they are claiming back monies paid when he was still living.

Thanks

Mojisola

Mosef41 wrote: »

Thanks I appreciate you are trying to help. The DWP are asking for repayment of pension payments before my father passed away. I am expecting the scenario you outline - paying back any money received which he is not entitled to as he is no longer living. However they are claiming back monies paid when he was still living.

McKneff wrote: »

He may have got a months payment and then passed away just a week into the month, so owes 3 weeks back...... just another way of saying what i said above.

As McKneff says - if his pension was being paid in advance, the money would have been paid while he alive but covered three weeks after his death and it's that they are asking for.

But before paying it, ask the DWP to explain how the overpayment occurred. The executors need to understand why the demand is being made.

Mosef41

Although neither of you appear to have read or understood my first posting your responses appear to back what I am saying, that all payments paid to my father before his death are valid, any made to him for the period after he died are due to be paid back - which is perfectly reasonable and proper.

Mojisola

Are you sure you aren't misunderstanding what the DWP are claiming back?

If they are asking for money covering weeks while he was alive, ask for clarification from them.

McKneff

I did read it, I did understand it.....

I give up gracefully though.....

Mosef41

Thanks - I am asking DWP for clarification for a second time. I sought help here to see if claiming back monies for periods when my father was still alive was expected and it sounds like it isn't. They also appear to be bungling their dates, claiming for payments over a four week period and quoting 'from' and 'to' dates for a 21 day period! Anyway - the saga continues and I do appreciate your assistance.

Nebulous2

They really should be able to explain to you why they want the money back. The pension advisory service could help explain it. They have a webchat facility and also let you contact an advisor.

There is some weird stuff about payment, which I cannot remember and I cannot find at the moment. It is paid 4 weekly in arrears unless he elected previously to get it paid a week in advance. There is a specific payment date/ day based on NI numbers. It may be that if you are actually dead before your payment date you aren't entitled to any of the 4 weeks payment. It is quite possible it has been paid with bank processing times and before a notification gets through the system. Does it sound as though that is possibly what you are facing?