State pension for widow

jackswan

Just trying to find out some info before ringing the DWP.

My father in law, who was 81 died in the middle of June leaving my mother in law as a widow at the age of 75.
Both were on state pension, father in law was receiving about £157 a week after working all his life and my mother in law was receiving £73 per week after finishing work at about the age of 30.
Just looking at the mother in laws bank statement, she is now only receiving the £73 for herself. Should this have increased?
Or should she be claiming for anything, seems so little money to live on.
Thanks for any info

LHW99

She should receive some additional state pension now since your father in law would have received his under the old rules (pre 06/04/2016).
See:
https://www.gov.uk/death-spouse-benefits-tax-pension/pensions

jackswan

Thanks for the quick reply.

Will she have to put a claim in for this or will this be done automatically by DWP?

The DWP were notified using the 'Tell us Once' service when the death certificate was picked up.

Alice_Holt

Also she should look at Pension Credit, which provides a minimum income of c.£159 pw

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/overview

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/claiming-benefits/pension-credit/

greenglide

You really need to ring the number given on the "tell us once" forms and they ought to be able to arrange the inheritance of some of his pension.

I assume that payment of his pension has stopped?

xylophone

Both parties became eligible for state pension under the old scheme.

See https://www.savvywoman.co.uk/1594/what-happens-to-your-state-pension-when-you-die/


If you reached state pension age before April 6th 2016: If you’re a widow, widower or a surviving partner of a civil partnership, you may be able to claim some of your late husband or civil partner’s state pension if you’re not entitled to a full basic state pension on your own National Insurance record. When your husband or civil partner dies you can apply to use his/her National Insurance record instead of your own in order to claim the basic state pension, if theirs is better than yours.

It would appear that the deceased had some additional state pension so see the above link under

Inheriting the additional state pension pre 2016

msallen

My father died about 6 months ago leaving my mother in a similar position. Her pension did eventually increase, but it took them about 6-8 weeks to do it following the "tell us once" notification. (I did try to chase them up but was told it was all in hand)

atush

exactly. They retired under 'old rules' where she should now get a full basic SP (around 119?) based inn his record plus a percentage of his S2p/serps etc.

Is she getting a portion of any private pension?

I would visit/call/contact age concern and find out what else she may be entitled to incl pension credit, council tax reduction etc.

neilvw

msallen wrote: »

My father died about 6 months ago leaving my mother in a similar position. Her pension did eventually increase, but it took them about 6-8 weeks to do it following the "tell us once" notification. (I did try to chase them up but was told it was all in hand)

In the OP's case it's only been 2-3 weeks, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt for him to call to check it's in hand.

jackswan

Thanks to everyone for their replies and some good info.

Rung up DWP, but as my mother in law was not alongside me they would not give any info, only that a letter was in the post as they had been notified by the 'Tell us once ' service. Will see what they give her.

thanks again

atush

Come back and let us know