Support for widowers - teachers pensions?

stickychappers

My beautiful Mum has just died very suddenly, and I’m trying to help Dad understand his financial position. Her pension/benefits accounted for over 70% of household income, and stupidly she didn’t have life insurance, so he is in a dire position. Does anyone know if there is any ability for a teachers pension to be passed onto their surviving partner? Or any other form of financial aid that could help him? He’s 73.

Malthusian

Sorry for your loss. Were they married? If so, he should be eligible for a spouse's pension; exactly how much will depend on which section of the pension scheme your mum was in. If they were unmarried but living as married he may be eligible but it is less certain.

Does he have a State Pension?

If the Teacher's Pensions was 70% of household income it would normally have to be a pretty large one, and it seems unlikely that financial aid would be available. I think you are being a bit quick to assume your dad is in dire straits.

It would be rare for someone in your mother's position to have life insurance. In the absence of more information I doubt she did anything stupid. For most people the spouse's pension and the State Pension, plus any other savings / pensions, plus the lower spending of a single person, would normally cover the widower's needs.

Misslayed

If your mum was of a similar age to your dad, he will be entitled to half her teachers' pension. (I've checked with TP that my husband would be entitled in the event of my demise)

Pollycat

It might be worth checking if your Dad is eligible for any benefits:
Benefits calculators - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Sorry for your loss.

stickychappers

Malthusian said:

Sorry for your loss. Were they married? If so, he should be eligible for a spouse's pension; exactly how much will depend on which section of the pension scheme your mum was in. If they were unmarried but living as married he may be eligible but it is less certain.

Does he have a State Pension?

If the Teacher's Pensions was 70% of household income it would normally have to be a pretty large one, and it seems unlikely that financial aid would be available. I think you are being a bit quick to assume your dad is in dire straits.

It would be rare for someone in your mother's position to have life insurance. In the absence of more information I doubt she did anything stupid. For most people the spouse's pension and the State Pension, plus any other savings / pensions, plus the lower spending of a single person, would normally cover the widower's needs.

Yep they were married. I might have not been clear… her overall income was 70% of household, and the teachers pension was part of that 70%

stickychappers

Misslayed said:

If your mum was of a similar age to your dad, he will be entitled to half her teachers' pension. (I've checked with TP that my husband would be entitled in the event of my demise)

Oh wow that would be a huge relief to us all, thank you x

Silvertabby

My sympathies to you all.

The rules regarding public sector widower's pensions are far more complex than the rules regarding widow's pensions.

It is likely that this lady retired/ left teaching before payment of survivor's pensions were introduced, so the crucial question is were they legally married?  And, almost as important, did they marry before or after she left teaching?  Then we have the 1988 and 1995/7 rules re widower's pensions......

The only people with all the answers will be Teacher's Pensions.  Have you informed them of your mother's death?  The first thing they will do will be to stop her pension payments, in order to minimise any over issue problems. They will then assess your dad's eligibility to pension benefits once they have received all necessary documentation - claim form, death/marriage/birth certificates etc.

Misslayed

@stickychappers

This is the form your Dad will need to complete (hope the link works)

https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/-/media/documents/member/applications/family-and-dependents/death-benefits.ashx?rev=410b570fc0924301b8c412e048d4db99&hash=9FDCB899F32F50A6875D95442977094E

xylophone

https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/survivors-tps-victory

may be relevant to the case.