Surviving partner pension

Yorkshireman99

Kynthia wrote: »

Why have you assumed that was a sarcastic response? It didn't quote you and seemed like a thanks to everyone that responded or for the link above

OP as has been said you need to as TPS for a breakdown. It can depend on which schemes within the TPS they have been in, for how long, and in some pensions you can buy 'additional pension' with or without survivor benefits. So there are too many variables. If you get a breakdown in sure some people on here can help you understand it.

The post immediately followed mine so it is reeasonable to assume that it was a reply to my post. However I accept that could be taken either way but surely it is for the OP to reply rather than you? I simply wanted the OP to be sure that I was not being flippant or sarcastic.

Silvertabby

When did they marry? If it was after he retired, then only service from 1978 counts towards a widow's pension.

seymourf

Thanks again all - it was a genuine response earlier as it is now, I appreciate the replies. They were married for just over 50 years. I guess she'll have to ask for details of the calculation then we'll see. She's my partner's mum and she asked me to help, so I'm trying to do as much as I can. 👍

Clutterfree

I've recently had to do this for my mum and I was told she'd receive 100% for 3 months then 50% after that.
I had to send in her marriage certificate to show she was entitled.
She's only received one payment so far so I hope she does still get the 50%.

jackyann

I think that when the Teachers' Pension Scheme was set up, it pulled in a lot of older pensions from varying authorities, schools etc. So some of those had different rules.
If the couple had been married 50 years, it is likely that the pension was begun a long time ago. I don't know if that is the reason, but I think it could account for OP being given a broad general reply on the phone, but then the specifics being different.
Undoubtedly, the only way forward is for OP to support the widow in contacting the service for an explanation.

Silvertabby

A widow’s pension is payable in respect of all service from 1 April 1972 undertaken by a married man. If a teacher bought in service prior to those dates to count for family benefits such service would also count in the calculation of the benefits.
A widow’s pension is calculated at the rate of 1/160th of the teacher’s average salary in respect of each year of service covered for family benefits.

This says that only service from 1972 counts towards a widow's pension, even if they were married before retirement, if the pension member hadn't opted to pay for previous service to count.

Could this be the explanation? Only way to find out for sure would be to ask TPS.

Note: the reference to the widow's pension being paid at the rate of 1/160th does actually mean 50% of the pensioners payment !

securityguy

Yes, my mistake in my posting above. It looks like today, widow's pensions are on a career average basis, whether or not the pension holder was final salary or career average. That is going to reduce the pension substantially below 50% for people promoted in later years, for example.

Silvertabby

Yes, my mistake in my posting above. It looks like today, widow's pensions are on a career average basis, whether or not the pension holder was final salary or career average. That is going to reduce the pension substantially below 50% for people promoted in later years, for example.

In this particular case, OP's friend's husband will have retired before TPS switched to career average, so that won't be the reason for the reduction.

You're right about widow's pensions not being a straightforward 50% - that hasn't been the case for the LGPS since 2008.

Up to 2008: Pensioner accrual rate = 1/80th, widow's accrual rate = 1/160th (ie, 50%)

2008 to 2014: Pensioner accrual rate = 1/60th, but widow's accrual rate still = 1/160th

2014 ongoing: Pensioner career average accrual rate = 1/49th, but widow's accrual rate still = 1/160th.

However, in the case of the LGPS, reductions to the pensioner's benefits for early payment and/or commutation are ignored when calculating the widow's/widower's benefits. This has resulted in some widow's/widower's pensions being as much as 85% of the pensioner benefits, but thus far only for those who 'retired' with very little service which was all or mostly career average.