State Pension

nomdeplume59

My husband died a few weeks ago and I wonder if any of you lovely people out there can help with a very specific state pension question.

A few (hopefully) relevant facts:
He was born in 1936 and was thus on the old state pension. I was born in 1953, hence qualify for the new state pension of £168.60, which I started claiming in 2017.
When he was alive his state pension was made up as follows:
basic pension £129.20
Pre 97 additional state pension £133.59
less contracted out deduction £84.55
Graduated retirement benefit £10.32
Age addition £0.25
Making a total of £188.81 per week.

I wrote to the DWP and have now received the following revised figures for my state pension:
New State Pension £168.60
Protected Payment £86.84
Making my new weekly state pension £255.44

Included in the covering letter from the DWP are the usual worrying disclaimers saying I should check this is correct and if it's not they can claw back overpayments, but, apart from checking that my state pension amount is correct, which it is, I can find no way of checking that the protected payment of £86.84 is correct, and £255.44 is very much more than I was expecting; I understood that the new state pension meant that we were all treated as individuals and I would not inherit any extra from his pension, but perhaps my understanding is incorrect.

Are there any state pension experts out there who can put my mind at rest or point out the errors in the DWP's statement of details?

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/inheriting-or-increasing-state-pension-from-a-spouse-or-civil-partner

xylophone

I would not inherit any extra from his pension, but perhaps my understanding is incorrect.

You are part of the transitional arrangement where

Scenario 2: a. Dependant reaches State Pension age in single tier
b. Contributor reaches State Pension age OR dies in the
current system

See P12 onwards https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181235/derived-inherited-entitlement.pdf

As far as I can see, because your husband reached SPA before 2002, this would have given you the right to inherit 100% of his ASP plus half his GRB.

However, on the figures given this would have been £54.20.

You mention that you had a full NSP in your own right - did you also have a protected payment in your own right?

Otherwise, you can ask DWP for the calculation done to establish the amount of his ASP that you inherited.

Triumph13

Firstly, sorry for your loss.
Because he was born before 5 October 1937 you inherit all of his ASP rather than the 50% for men born after 6 October 1945. I come up with the same number as Xylophone, but they may be doing something weird and wonderful with the COPE bit or something. The bottom line is:

• You are definitely entitled to inherit some of your late husband's pension
• You can be confident that most of the amount concerned is correct
• If you are worried about the rest of it then, as xylophone says, contact the DWP and ask them for an explanation.

grnglide

If there is any inherited AP then this should show as a separate amount.



There are a maximum of four components of nSP and inherited components "should" show on a separate line.


Unfortunately the actual breakdown of these components has never been given for the new State Pension, it was cheaper, there wasn't time!

xylophone

but they may be doing something weird and wonderful with the COPE bit or something.

I did try some other permutations in view of the OP's late husband's old state pension.

For example, look at inheritance from the point of gross ASP and deduct half COD then add back half GRB but that didn't come out with the DWP figure either.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-4739846/Why-state-pension-reduced-husband-died.html

nomdeplume59

Thank you so much again, all of you. I am so grateful for the time you've taken trying to get to the bottom of the figures - it is hugely appreciated.

As a result of all your hard work I have now written to the DWP asking them for their calculations and hope to hear from them in the next few weeks. No doubt once I hear I shall be back to ask more daft questions.

xylophone - I don't have a protected payment in my own right.

nomdeplume59

Do the DWP always move at a glacial pace when answering questions? As stated above, I wrote to them on 11 October, chased them for a reply at the end of November and chased them again today. All they can tell me is that my letter has been received and scanned in but they can't tell me anything on the phone as this sort of query is apparently dealt with by a (clearly very unhurried) specialist team.

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure

You can contact us about any aspect of the service you’ve received, including:

mistakes that have been made
unreasonable delays
how you’ve been treated
not being kept informed

If you haven't had a reply within the next couple of weeks you might wish to make a formal complaint - you could also try your MP.

nomdeplume59

Very many thanks, xylophone - yet again you've been a huge help and I'll go down that route if I haven't heard anything in a couple of weeks.