NHS survivors pension help

Silvertabby

Onecanhope wrote: »

They called my gran today out of the blue asking her to confirm the marriage date. They had her married in 1994 - 8 years after his retirement - when they were actually married in 1959. They have even had copies of the marriage certificate! Hopefully this may be why they have caused the error and we can get it resolved soon. It’s been a nightmare

Thanks for your comment, it gives me some support

Yay - that's the answer! With the wrong date of marriage on record, 'computer says - post retirement marriage - only service from 1978 counts'. Hopefully, they'll get it sorted without any further delays. Your nan is lucky to have you in her corner.

Onecanhope

Hi. Yeah the figure they have given her before tax is just over £500. Still way off the money it should be so this was taxed at the normal 20% rate.

We are chasing his documents to send to the tax office. Allegedly they sent it out in August and September but we are yet to receive anything. I’ve been told it will be to sent out today. When I asked why so many letters are going missing they just said we can’t comment, we’re not a postal service!!!! So frustrating.

Onecanhope

Linton wrote: »

It would appear that service prior to 1972 only provides 33% widows pension. See :
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2018-01/NHS%20Pension%20Scheme%20Useful%20Dates-20180122-%28V2%29.pdf

All of her phone conversation and on the letters they have confirmed that she is entitled to x3 months at full pay and the rest at 50%

The full payment went into her account on October 1st and consisted of June July and August’s payment. That was a lump sum and was taxed. Her next payment and all future payments are meant to be on the 20th of the month but when the 20th arrived instead of recovering 50% she received 22%. Just over £500 and after tax £400 went into her account

When I called they said that there was a discrepancy in the figures but they could not acces his last years total annual pay so they couldn’t help and I’d need to write to them asking them to explain why it’s so low and provide a breakdown. So confusing

Onecanhope

They have confirmed address is correct. Just letters not received nor the tax letter.....

Apparently, they can’t control the postal service. Shame the mistake service can still deliver all her bills though

Onecanhope

Silvertabby wrote: »

Yay - that's the answer! With the wrong date of marriage on record, 'computer says - post retirement marriage - only service from 1978 counts'. Hopefully, they'll get it sorted without any further delays. Your nan is lucky to have you in her corner.

They were together since she was 17 when he was a student nurse and married as soon as they were allowed (black and white couple in them days. I think it was the first year he had graduated so they were married the full time he was in service. Strange how they rang her out the blue just to ask that and then didn’t express anything more but if they have realised an error internally hopefully they will fix it.

If I don’t get anywhere I’ll have to take it to the ombudsman or MP to complain.

Silvertabby

Onecanhope wrote: »

They were together since she was 17 when he was a student nurse and married as soon as they were allowed (black and white couple in them days. I think it was the first year he had graduated so they were married the full time he was in service. Strange how they rang her out the blue just to ask that and then didn’t express anything more but if they have realised an error internally hopefully they will fix it.

If I don’t get anywhere I’ll have to take it to the ombudsman or MP to complain.

It should have been sop to check the birth/marriage certificates against the information input to the computer record before running the first calculation. Sounds like they did this in response to your request for a break down of the figures - then rang your nan just to make sure that the incorrect date on record didn't relate to a second marriage. I think you/your nan will be ok now - but I'd still register a complaint in view of the unneccessary stress she has been put through. At the very least, she needs a proper apology.

xylophone

If I don’t get anywhere I’ll have to take it to the ombudsman or MP to complain.

Even once it has been sorted out, your grandmother has grounds for complaint.

In her position I would complain about the utter incompetence, the rudeness

we are not a postal service

and the stress and distress caused.

xylophone

What address was it posted to? If that is/was wrong then it will never be received.

OP confirms that the Administrators have the correct address but given their record up to now, it is quite possible that some correspondence has been sent elsewhere in error?

cherry76

Is it three months full pay? I thought it is one? Also does anybody know why a widow will get 50% and a widower 33%. Thanks

Onecanhope

From the info I have got (which based on service I have received may be wrong)

The introduction of x3 months full payment and increase to half payment were for people still in service post 1972 and who were married men not people who joined it after then. In saying that though I don’t know when exactly my grandad started his pension.

She has however definetly received the 3 months in full payment (and the figure was correct on that payment) and been told she will get 50% (where the figures don’t match