Dads Pension

girlsmum

I know this is going back a bit; 

my dad passed away back in 2010 he was 69 - when he died we contacted his private pension company to see if there would be a pension for my mum (who is still around) 
we were told no...so we left it.  People are now saying that this should not have been the case and my mum should have been entitled to some of his pension.

could they be right?
if so any ideas how i can check.

thanks

MallyGirl

it depends on what he opted for - AFAIK not all pensions provide for spouse and if he bought an annuity on retirement he could have bought one without spouse cover

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Had he bought an annuity?

girlsmum

I dont know what it was to be honest and my mum only now kept the minimal of paperwork - i think i will start by writing to them to see what type of pension it is/was.  
thanks

Marcon

girlsmum said:

I know this is going back a bit; 

my dad passed away back in 2010 he was 69 - when he died we contacted his private pension company to see if there would be a pension for my mum (who is still around) 
we were told no...so we left it.  People are now saying that this should not have been the case and my mum should have been entitled to some of his pension.

could they be right?
if so any ideas how i can check.

thanks

'People' can be well meaning but without knowing any of the facts, they can also be completely wrong.

I'd write to the pension company and specifically ask them to confirm:

1. whether your father had used his private pension to contract out of the state additional pension at any point
2. the type of annuity your father purchased, specifically was it own life or did it provide for a spouse's pension
3. the date on which it was purchased
4. whether the annuity had any guarantee period.

FYI:

1. If he did, then the pension pot would have contained something described as 'protected rights' and some sort of spouse's pension would have to provided in respect of this part of the pot (assuming your mum and dad were married)
2. 'Own life' means just that: it is payable for his lifetime but he did not 'buy' a spouse's pension
3. Matters because the start date is when any guarantee period starts
4. A guarantee period means that if the annuitant dies within x years of their pension coming into payment, an amount equal to any pension payments which would have been payable during those x years would be payable. Guarantee periods are typically 5 years, so if he started to draw his pension at 65 and died at 69, there's likely to be about a year's pension owing

girlsmum

Marcon said:

girlsmum said:

I know this is going back a bit; 

my dad passed away back in 2010 he was 69 - when he died we contacted his private pension company to see if there would be a pension for my mum (who is still around) 
we were told no...so we left it.  People are now saying that this should not have been the case and my mum should have been entitled to some of his pension.

could they be right?
if so any ideas how i can check.

thanks

'People' can be well meaning but without knowing any of the facts, they can also be completely wrong.

I'd write to the pension company and specifically ask them to confirm:

1. whether your father had used his private pension to contract out of the state additional pension at any point
2. the type of annuity your father purchased, specifically was it own life or did it provide for a spouse's pension
3. the date on which it was purchased
4. whether the annuity had any guarantee period.

FYI:

1. If he did, then the pension pot would have contained something described as 'protected rights' and some sort of spouse's pension would have to provided in respect of this part of the pot (assuming your mum and dad were married)
2. 'Own life' means just that: it is payable for his lifetime but he did not 'buy' a spouse's pension
3. Matters because the start date is when any guarantee period starts
4. A guarantee period means that if the annuitant dies within x years of their pension coming into payment, an amount equal to any pension payments which would have been payable during those x years would be payable. Guarantee periods are typically 5 years, so if he started to draw his pension at 65 and died at 69, there's likely to be about a year's pension owing

great thank you 

MEM62

girlsmum said:

my dad passed away back in 2010 

Sorry for your loss

girlsmum said:

When he died we contacted his private pension company to see if there would be a pension for my mum (who is still around) 
we were told no...so we left it.  

girlsmum said:

People are now saying that this should not have been the case and my mum should have been entitled to some of his pension.

What 'people' and based on what evidence?  

girlsmum said:

could they be right?

It is possible but unlikely as they are guessing and the pension provider should have advised you correctly.  

girlsmum said:

if so any ideas how i can check.

You can check the policy documents.  All the details will be there.