Pension Woes

Geordiemum64

My husband died a few months ago, there is a coroners investigation into his death which we've been told could take up to 9 months, in the meantime we have been issued an interim death certificate showing his cause of death. We're trying to sort out all his finances ASAP so we can try to get on with our lives as normally as possible & have had no problems using the interim certificate as proof of his death when dealing with his lgps & benefit agencies. However, one pension provider are refusing to accept the interim death certificate as proof, they're insisting they need the final death certificate, showing the cause of death be presented after the coroners investigating is completed (even though we were assured that interim certificate would be accepted for pension claims). I can understand a final death certificate being required for life insurance claims but for a pension claim? I always thought a pension was payable no matter how a person died. 

xylophone

I would suggest that you write to the pension  administrators in order to obtain their reasons (in writing) for refusing to pay out the widow's pension.

You can then make a formal complaint if you feel that this is  merited and if necessary refer the matter to the ombudsman.

Keep_pedalling

Is this a private pension such as SIPP? I can understand why a pension that basically comprises of a large pot of money might require you jumping through more hoops than a final salary pension that would be paying a monthly payment. 

Geordiemum64

Not sure what type of pension it is, hubby wasn't too good on keeping paperwork. All I know is it was taken out years ago when we were given the option to opt out of serps(?) so he opted out & took a pension with Prudential. ... It's not a great deal of money either, pay out on death is under 15K. I've asked them to explain why they need the final death certificate but have not received a valid explanation as such,  just that they "need to make sure we have gathered all relevant information for us to make an informal decision and we may be unable to settle the claim until all our requirements are met". Like I mentioned earlier all other agencies, lgps, benefits, council. HMRC & DWP have all accepted the interim death certificate but it seems its not good enough for Prudential. I'll email them again tomorrow & if I still don't get a satisfactory explanation I will be contacting the ombudsman. On another note, they're not exactly quick at responding either, it took them 2 months to even send out claim forms for me to complete. 

Malthusian

That sounds like a "defined contribution pension".

In fairness to Prudential none of the other agencies you mentioned are going to be paying out £15k, but if there is no doubt that he is deceased it does sound like pointless obstruction.

If he was over 75 do not rush into taking the benefits as a taxable lump sum. You may also have the option of inheriting the fund as a pension and only paying income tax when you draw it, which may save you paying voluntary tax. (If he was under 75 the same applies, but as the payment is tax free there is less reason not to take it as a lump sum.)

I'll email them again tomorrow & if I still don't get a satisfactory explanation I will be contacting the ombudsman.

You will need to make a formal complaint and then wait for either their final response or eight weeks before you can go to the Ombudsman.

On another note, they're not exactly quick at responding either, it took them 2 months to even send out claim forms for me to complete. 

You could have just downloaded them from https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/contact-us/forms or used the online complaint form.

If you do eventually make a complaint you should expect it to take much longer than 2 months before it is even looked at.

Silvertabby

My heartfelt sympathies to you.  You really don't need admin problems on top of everything else.

As a retired LGPS administrator, I can possibly explain why not all agencies accept an interim coroner's certificate in lieu of a death certificate - and that is, as gently as I can put it, - they need to ensure that any beneficiaries weren't in any way responsible for the death.  

As the LGPS accepted the interim certificate (as they do in 99% of cases) this clearly not an issue, but other pension providers do seem to blinded by 'their rules'.

Robert_McGeddon

What xylophone said.  It sounds like you hold a "Coroner's Certificate of the Fact of Death". This is rather more than an interim certificate. I'm a little surprised it gives a cause of death, as this is what the Coroner's investigation is usually about.

Anyway, when writing to the Pru:

1.  State they already hold certification of proof of death. Ask them what extra information the final Death Certificate will provide above what they alreay hold and why that is relevant to sorting out the pension.

2.  Tell them he situation is causing you financial hardship and unnecessary suffering.

3.  State that the delay is unacceptable and unprofessional on their part. Say (again?) that all other organisations involved have accepted the certificate you hold and indeed paid out/settled all claims. Pru are the only one preventing financial closure.

4.  If the matter is not brought to a satisfactory conclusion in the very near future you will raise a formal complaint and then proceed to the Ombudsman if necessary.

HTH,

Geordiemum64

Silvertabby said:

I can possibly explain why not all agencies accept an interim coroner's certificate in lieu of a death certificate - and that is, as gently as I can put it, - they need to ensure that any beneficiaries weren't in any way responsible for the death.  

As the LGPS accepted the interim certificate (as they do in 99% of cases) this clearly not an issue, but other pension providers do seem to blinded by 'their rules'.

This seems to be the case with prudential, they refuse to budge on their decision. Their reply more or less stated they don't care if other agencies accepted the interim death certificate their rules state that they won't. So I guess its going to be a long wait till they settle the claim. 

Marcon

Malthusian said:

On another note, they're not exactly quick at responding either, it took them 2 months to even send out claim forms for me to complete. 

You could have just downloaded them from https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/contact-us/forms or used the online complaint form.

If you do eventually make a complaint you should expect it to take much longer than 2 months before it is even looked at.

I think OP meant the Pru had been tardy in sending the forms.

The 'correct' Ombudsman in this case would be the Pensions Ombudsman - waste of time going to FOS, as this is about maladministration. 

OP, if you need some help immediately, MoneyHelper is your best starting point: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement/pension-problems for free, impartial and expert help - and without the long wait you'd face going to any Ombudsman.