Advice needed please Private Pension death and discrection to pay dependants

heidi1977

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My fiance died very unexpectedly in april 2018, his private pension company has contacted me to say the trustees have the discrection to pay dependants pension where no formal marriage has taken place. I need to provide proof that I was financially dependant on my partner at the time of his death. They require copies of utility bills, rent book, mortgage, insurance policies etc and a copy of my birth certificate.

I'm looking for advice before I reply, so I have the best chance of getting a result. Its been a tough time since he passed away, I haven't been able to work do to having a breakdown as a result of the shock and grief.

Its complicated tho, as I wasn't on the bills as the house he owned. I'll try and briefly expalin. We shared a holiday home, both names on the bills from the landlord. We spent our time between the holiday home and the house he owned. The bills were in his name there as he had it before we were together and it was easier to leave things how they were. I however like to save money, and sourced a cheaper electric and gas supplier and I settled the final bill before changing over, I can proove that. I gave him money towards bills and likewise he helped me with costs for my place (holiday home). I was second named driver on the insurance for car. I sorted most of his paper work etc. And since his death dealt with the funeral directors etc have the paper work. The house was owned outright so no mortgage etc. We shared costs of food car etc. I cut my work hours when we were together at his requet as he took early retirment so we could spend more time together. He took me to work as I am only a learner driver still, so when he died I couldn't get to work as it was a 45min drive and no bus or train. I had to give up my job as a result and have suffered with ill health since.

Do you think I have a good case and enough evidence to put forward to the Pension company? Its a hard one, I am worried its not enough and they won't understand the circumstances. They have told me how much the monthly payment is and its payable for life, if awarded do you think they would pay out a lump sum to settle?

Thanks in advance.

MEM62

Only the trustees of the scheme can make the determination. It is their judgement call and it would be unfair of any of us to guess the outcome. I would provide them with what documentation your can and, if you feel the need, a letter explaining any circumstances that may not be clear. That is all you can do.

Marcon

Without knowing the exact wording in the rules of the pension scheme concerned, it's impossible to know. The fact your name wasn't on certain things doesn't count against you if you can demonstrate that you were financially dependent (often the word 'interdependent' also appears; ditto the words 'living in a relationship akin to marriage'). Presumably you can prove you were engaged - an announcement in the papers, party invitations, wedding enquiries/plans, a receipt for a ring - any or all of these would be persuasive.

Hopefully there is a will, which should give a clear indication of your relationship? If so, that will go a long way towards providing the evidence the trustees need.

From what you've said it sounds like a defined benefit (aka final salary) scheme so no, it's unlikely you will be offered a lump sum in lieu of a pension for your lifetime unless the pension is very tiny.

Before going any further, get yourself some free, expert help from people who are very well used to dealing with this sort of sad situation: TPAS. See https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/contacting-us