State Pension - please help **Update again**

saver861

hec2308 wrote: »

I work in financial services and the process we go through when a client dies to register their death with pension providers and investment houses is extraordinary. I just don't know how this could happen based on a letter being ignored and someone not answering a door (and that's if I even believe what they tell me, which I don't)

This is the extraordinary thing about this. Normally the procedures are considerable and so how they let this through on one letter and one visit does not make sense at all.

That definitely does need explaining.

hec2308 wrote: »

Thank you very much for all the advice, hopefully I can get this sorted soon. Apparently it will take them 3-5 working days to investigate and come up with an answer but I'm going to chase them again next week. Don't trust them!

If you can, get a case handler and a case reference to have a point of reference and not be passed from pillar to post.

hec2308 wrote: »

I am concerned about the potential tax implications of this and which way it could go,

There cannot be a greater liability than if payments had been made correctly for the last three years. Clearly if his non existent pension has been used as part of his personal allowance then he has in effect being overtaxed.

I think the first thing is to establish why the pension was stopped and how much is in arrears etc. From there you would then tackle the tax issue. Until you have all the facts about the pension, you wont be able to provide reliable data to the tax office.

hec2308 wrote: »

The reason that I've started looking at all this stuff is because we have discussed starting the process of me becoming POA for both my grandmother and my grandfather, and I think this has highlighted to my grandmother that it may be best to get this done sooner rather than later. So this is in hand. Hopefully it should make everything a little bit easier for everyone.

That would be sensible. Its possible your grandmother may have inadvertently contributed to the problem as it just seems too extraordinary for them to stop pension on a letter and visit.

You can do all the POA yourself without having to pay a solicitor etc if you are not already aware. Lots of documents but not particularly cumbersome and quite doable.

hec2308

saver861 wrote: »

If you can, get a case handler and a case reference to have a point of reference and not be passed from pillar to post.

Very good point, hadn't thought of that. Would have been useful especially as it took me three goes on the phone to get through to someone who was actually helpful. Will call them this afternoon and try and grab one from them.

saver861 wrote: »

That would be sensible. Its possible your grandmother may have inadvertently contributed to the problem as it just seems too extraordinary for them to stop pension on a letter and visit.

I know that given the situation no one is going to believe me, but honestly she is amazing. She is very sharp, she has incredible brain power and energy for an 82 year old and she has had to learn a lifetime's worth of information since my grandfather was diagnosed. She's normally the one who looks after all of us, and she has always queried anything with me in the past that she isn't sure of and she keeps every single bit of paper that comes through the door just in case she ever needs it. If I felt she was vulnerable in any way I never would have left her to her own devices. Unfortunately I fear that my grandfather's illness getting worse and her lack of sleep has led to things slipping through the cracks, but if they had just called their landline to speak to her this would never have happened....that is if they are telling the truth and this isn't some kind of money-saving exercise. Or maybe that is too cynical of me...

saver861 wrote: »

You can do all the POA yourself without having to pay a solicitor etc if you are not already aware. Lots of documents but not particularly cumbersome and quite doable.

Thanks for that, I haven't even looked at doing that yet so seriously need to get my behind in gear.

Just as an aside - has anyone got any experience of "Help friends or family with tax" on the Gov.uk website? Sorry I wanted to post a link but it won't let me, but it comes up on google.

It looks like a slightly less "official" way of getting through their obstacles without the POA being in place. Just thought it might be worth doing in the interim of the POA being established but wasn't sure if it would be just as time consuming to set up?

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/help-friends-family-tax

I have never used it but years back, when a family member was having difficulties, she was present when I contacted HMRC on her behalf and was able to give permission for matters to be discussed with me.

xylophone

Another thing that makes it rather strange that your grandmother did not query your grandfather's position is that his annual "statement of benefits" (State Pension Increase) would not have arrived while hers did.

Also, what about the winter fuel payment letter? It normally mentions a "shared rate" if there is another person living in the house - presumably your grandmother's didn't?

I've just had another thought - it's a long shot but did your grandfather have to go into hospital for several weeks three years ago?

http://www.rights4seniors.net/content/after-28-days

hec2308

xylophone wrote: »

Another thing that makes it rather strange that your grandmother did not query your grandfather's position is that his annual "statement of benefits" (State Pension Increase) would not have arrived while hers did.

Also, what about the winter fuel payment letter? It normally mentions a "shared rate" if there is another person living in the house - presumably your grandmother's didn't?

I've just had another thought - it's a long shot but did your grandfather have to go into hospital for several weeks three years ago?

I must hold my hands up and say I have not seen any other paperwork yet (apart from that which I have already mentioned), so I will dig those two documents out. Thank you for that.

Nope, touch wood and fingers crossed my grandfather has not been hospitalised at any stage of his life. They asked me something like that on the phone but didn't explain what the impact of that would have been so that's useful to know!!

I've called again to try and get a case reference number but apparently there isn't one, but at least I managed to get through and they could see the notes on their system so hopefully I should be fine without one.

xylophone

I

've called again to try and get a case reference number but apparently there isn't one, but at least I managed to get through and they could see the notes on their system so hopefully I should be fine without one.

Best wishes and do let us know how it goes.

saver861

hec2308 wrote: »

I know that given the situation no one is going to believe me, but honestly she is amazing.

Nobody should doubt you.

At the face of it, it seems like the pension people have made a might c0ckup!

hec2308 wrote: »

..that is if they are telling the truth and this isn't some kind of money-saving exercise. Or maybe that is too cynical of me...

I can understand why you would think that but in honesty I don't think that's the reason behind this. It seems like something that got lost in someone's in-tray and its a mess up rather than some cost efficiency process.

From your posts I think you will sort this out in a professional manner and the situation at the other end will be much better than if this had not happened. Your grandparents will be in a better position and if you get the POA then that provides some future proofing to the situation.

As xylophone says, good luck with it and do come back and let us know the outcome .... I'm sure there are lots on here that might benefit from the info.

hec2308

Thanks very much!

hec2308

So just an update for you.

I have called the DWP today about the State Pension and also the Attendance Allowance. Both of these issues have now been resolved and payments issued at the end of last week and should be in my grandparents' account by the end of this week. Obviously they would not divulge any info to me with regards to figures that will be paid and regardless both myself and my partner are going to sit down and go through it all just to triple check it all adds up, but aside from this, WHAT A RELIEF. Still no apology or proper explanation has been forthcoming, but someone is coming to my grandparents' house on Thursday to make sure they are receiving what they are entitled to and hopefully this will draw a line under this mess.

Unfortunately now my grandfather is in hospital and has been since Wednesday. I have informed the Attendance Allowance people and thanks to info provided on here am now obviously aware that this will stop after 3 weeks of him being in there. He isn't doing very well and we would much rather him be back home, but they won't release him until some more adjustments have been made to their property so thank god this money is coming just in time. Now I just need to find a decent plumber who doesn't have any work to do at the beginning of the summer holidays.......fat chance......

Anyway, thank you so much for everybody's help. It was seriously appreciated and helped me keep a slightly calmer head in a very stressful time. Obviously it's still ongoing but the main things are sorted. Just got to get my grandfather out the hospital now!

P.s. just as a matter of interest, never heard back from our MP. Just as well HMRC pulled their finger out really.

xylophone

but someone is coming to my grandparents' house on Thursday to make sure they are receiving what they are entitled to and hopefully this will draw a line under this mess.

And you will be there (assuming that your grandmother is content with this)?

just as well HMRC pulled their finger out really.

Do you mean DWP?

And have you sorted out your grandfather's tax position?