NHS survivors pension help

Onecanhope

Hello

Wondered if someone can help me. My grandad retired on 1988 for the NHS and passed away in June this year. But my grandma is having real trouble with getting his pension. She was informed she would receive 3 months full pay and the rest half. After chasing it’s taken till last week for the lump sum to be paid however we have still yet to receive a break down of figures etc even though it’s been allegedly posted 4 times

The issue however is with the half pension. They are now saying they will only be paying less than half of the half (so less than quarter) of his pension and we can’t seem to get any good reason as to why? There was a 6 year age cap and they have been married for 59 years. All the documents I can fine online talk about retirement post 1988. Anyone know of this is right that that can do this?

Any help would be appreciated

molerat

If they were married whilst he was in the job and he retired directly from the job I believe she should be entitled to 50% or close to as there may be some deduction from pre 1973 service if extra widows pension contributions were not made.
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2018-01/NHS%20Pension%20Scheme%20Useful%20Dates-20180122-%28V2%29.pdf

Onecanhope

Thank you for the link. I really think they have messed up. I’ve worked it out that she is recieving 22% instead of 50%. The letters she has received say she should be on 50%. She rang them and they told her it was lower because that was all that was left on the pot? Doesn’t sound right to me

I rang them today myself and theyinformed me that I was right, the figures don’t match but they can’t explain why because they don’t make the decisions. Of course the department that does, do not have a phone number so we need to put in writing a letter asking for a break down of cost and why it is so low.

Personally, I think they have given her 50% of the total he was paid from January to June and not %50 of his total annual figure. It’s working out at £500 a month less than what she should be getting

xylophone

TPAS

https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/ask-us

You might make an initial telephone enquiry on your grandma's behalf.

Onecanhope

Great link, thank you. I will contact them tomorrow to get their thoughts. Appreciate your help

kidmugsy

Onecanhope wrote: »

She rang them and they told her it was lower because that was all that was left on the pot?

There is no "pot": it's a final salary pension so what there is is a promise to pay her half of what they paid him. No wonder you're unhappy about this shambles.

Onecanhope

kidmugsy wrote: »

There is no "pot": it's a final salary pension so what there is is a promise to pay her half of what they paid him. No wonder you're unhappy about this shambles.

Thank you! I thought that to be the case but didn’t know enough for sure sure. My grandad worked hard and retired as director of nursing services. His pension before he passed was £1816pm after tax. The letter states she will receive half payments - so we believed it to be around £900- but the figure given by them is £400pm after tax.

We’re nearly 5 months down and my Gran has used her savings. She was ready to accept it as it is but it doesnt sound right to me so I’m trying to get to the bottom of it as it’s extra worry she doesn’t need right now.

All they are telling me on the phone is they can’t help. She must write a letter asking how they came to that figure and requests a break down but it will take up to 15 days for a reply. Considering it took us 6 called and 5 months to receive the first letter and we still haven’t got one from them for the tax I’m losing hope on where to take it

TARDIS

Sadly this sort of thing isn't unusual with the current NHS pension service. They are notoriously slow at correcting things too. You need to be persistent to get things sorted.
Your gran is lucky to have you fighting her corner - keep it up!

Silvertabby

Everything I can find points to 50% widow's pension (with perhaps a small reduction for pre 1973 service if your grandad didn't opt to pay extra for full widow's benefits?).

The only thing I can think of is that the NHS have the wrong date of marriage on record - if that's been input as a date after he he retired, then they'll only be using his service from 1978 to 1988 in the benefit calculations.

Don't let this go - I know from a family member's experience that NHS pensions are beggers for saying - 'the computer says .... so it must be right'.

xylophone

Don't let this go - I know from a family member's experience that NHS pensions are beggers for saying - 'the computer says .... so it must be right'.

The OP's grandma's treatment by the administrator is totally unacceptable and I hope she (or the OP with her permission) will be complaining in the strongest possible terms.

xylophone

All they are telling me on the phone is they can’t help. She must write a letter asking how they came to that figure and requests a break down but it will take up to 15 days for a reply. Considering it took us 6 called and 5 months to receive the first letter and we still haven’t got one from them for the tax I’m losing hope on where to take it

TPAS will assist with the complaints process - and do not hesitate to contact your grandma's MP.