How do I find what pensions someone receives?

YellowRue

I need to find out what pensions/pension credit my grandfather receives.

Let me explain the situation: all my grandfathers finances, pension, etc were looked after by my uncle (my uncle was my grandfathers carer as my grandfather is immobile). My uncle died suddenly this week and we cannot find any important documents whatsoever, including pension documents. We think he may have burnt them.

My mother is now looking after my grandfather. She needs to find out what government pensions he receives, and if he receives tax credits.

I called the pension service but they are not accepting non-urgent calls. I tried citizens advice but gave up after being hold for two hours, then cut off.

Please can someone help me?

AlanP_2

Bank statements might give you a clue if paid straight into an account.

You say he is immobile, does that stop him from telling you what he gets, from where and in to what account?

xylophone

I called the pension service but they are not accepting non-urgent calls.

Are you saying that they actually refused to assist you? I'd say that establishing where the pension of a vulnerable person is paid is urgent, particularly if the deceased uncle was his father's appointee.

LHW99

Bank / building society statements are best place to start. If you know where he worked just before he retired, you may be able to find out what pension he could have had and who would be the trustees. Did your uncle have POA for your grandfather? If not it is worth getting one set up, if grandfather is mentally OK. If he did, it would cease to have effect, unless any other attorney is named, with full powers, in which case a new one would need to be set up anyway.

Did your uncle have a solicitor or accountant? they could have some records perhaps

YellowRue

AlanP_2 said:

Bank statements might give you a clue if paid straight into an account.

You say he is immobile, does that stop him from telling you what he gets, from where and in to what account?

We don't know where these are. Let me repeat myself - we cannot find any important documents whatsoever. This includes all bank statements and also his bank books.

And yes his immobility stops him from telling us what is in his accounts. He trusted my uncle to open and deal with all his mail and he could not get it from the letter box himself.

YellowRue

xylophone said:

I called the pension service but they are not accepting non-urgent calls.

Are you saying that they actually refused to assist you? I'd say that establishing where the pension of a vulnerable person is paid is urgent, particularly if the deceased uncle was his father's appointee.

Yes  They said they would only deal with queries which changed the amount of pension he would receive. We have no idea whether he was an official appointee or not. As we have found out since his death, my uncle has hid lots from his family. We are all very devastated and shocked at the events of the past few days and are just trying to unravel all the secrets and sort stuff out.

YellowRue

LHW99 said:

Bank / building society statements are best place to start. If you know where he worked just before he retired, you may be able to find out what pension he could have had and who would be the trustees. Did your uncle have POA for your grandfather? If not it is worth getting one set up, if grandfather is mentally OK. If he did, it would cease to have effect, unless any other attorney is named, with full powers, in which case a new one would need to be set up anyway.

Did your uncle have a solicitor or accountant? they could have some records perhaps

Thank you. My uncle has hidden all the bank statements and bank books, and we have been unable to find them so we are stuck at the moment.

My grandfather was self-employed all his life so I think he only has his personal pension, and state pension.

I don't know if he had POA but thank you for the suggestion, I will forward this to my mother to enquire into.

Silvertabby

Is it possible that your uncle arranged for your grandfather's pensions to be paid into his (the uncle's) bank account?  From my  past experience as a pensions administrator, I've seen this happen before 'because it makes things easier'.  

squirrelpie

YellowRue said:

And yes his immobility stops him from telling us what is in his accounts. He trusted my uncle to open and deal with all his mail and he could not get it from the letter box himself.

Do you mean that your grandfather is unable to speak? Or that he is not mentally capable? Or both? Can he communicate at all?

It sounds like your mother or somebody will need to establish POA in order to be able to deal with his affairs. By then you may have received another bank statement, which will get your investigation started. If not, you will perhaps need to go round all the local banks and building societes, armed with the POA, and ask whether your grandfather has an account there.

If you don't receive a bank statement soon that explains where his state pension is paid, then I would call the pension service again and try to explain why you need the information - again you may need the POA. If that doesn't work then raise a complaint.

Mojisola

squirrelpie said:

Do you mean that your grandfather is unable to speak? Or that he is not mentally capable? Or both? Can he communicate at all?

It sounds like your mother or somebody will need to establish POA in order to be able to deal with his affairs.

The grandfather would have to be capable and competent to appoint attorneys.

This may have to go to the Court of Protection.

Clive_Woody

You could try running an Experian report to see what bank accounts he has in his name (although you may need his NI number or similar to register). If you can then find his bank then potentially you can start digging for information by getting a statement, although that might be difficult without a POA.