will i inherit any of my late husbands state pension?

BooJewels

Poor love - it's hard enough losing your Dad at any age - I lost mine 18 months ago and still can't get to grips with it and my son is 3 times your daughter's age and he's struggling with losing his Dad so young too - so for an 11 year old who can't possibly understand it or be at an age where it's not unexpected, must be incredibly hard to comprehend and deal with.  Take whatever help you're offered - it's still very early days yet, so don't be too hard on yourself.

vickyholly

uss_tish said:

@vickyholly and @BooJewels so sorry for your loss I totally get the feelings of being overwhelmed with life admin and house maintenance. I too lost my husband 16 months ago and had assumed I wouldn’t inherit any of his state pension but this thread seems to suggest I should at least look into it. @BooJewels may I ask which form you had to fill in?

❤️ To you both, it’s so tough especially with young children. 

Sorry for your loss too, its definitely a journey i wouldnt wish on amyone, Im only 9 weeks in, and its still all about survival. Still waiting on probate and a few things to pay out, Some companies have been amazing in support but others have been shockingly awful. Think ive cried through at least one phone call aday. Take care

Abbafan1972

@vickyholly

I just read your post and apologies, I can't help you with your question, but just wanted to offer my condolences to you and let you know you're in my thoughts x

BooJewels

uss_tish said:

@vickyholly and @BooJewels so sorry for your loss I totally get the feelings of being overwhelmed with life admin and house maintenance. I too lost my husband 16 months ago and had assumed I wouldn’t inherit any of his state pension but this thread seems to suggest I should at least look into it. @BooJewels may I ask which form you had to fill in?

❤️ To you both, it’s so tough especially with young children. 

Thank you kindly and sorry for your loss too.   The admin's the easy bit for me, I did it anyway and at least when I'm sorting things out, I'm making useful progress.  It's being on my own and 4'11" that's a bit of an issue - e.g. one of my smoke alarms failed last week - in that it was bipping to say the batteries were low.  So I replaced them and it wouldn't get going again, so I just bought another - but I couldn't reach the place it was fixed well enough to mark and re-drill holes to put it up and had to whimp out and use the sticky pad that came with it.  So I got the job done, but didn't feel that I'd done it properly.  That seems to be the story of my life just now.

My son does keep pointing out that had the tables been turned and I'd been the one to pass - how much more of a mess my husband would be in without me.  He'd have no idea of who we were insured with, how to log in to the bank, how to operate the washing machine etc etc. - he'd be totally stumped without the pants fairy!  So that idea does make me chuckle periodically.

I didn't fill any form in, I just rang and asked and the very helpful lady on the phone offered it and said she'd have to submit a request for my husband's NI/pension account to be analysed and I had to give permission for that and they'd write to me with the result - but it could take a while - 8 weeks or more.  The letter arrived before I'd started thinking it might be due.  He had something like £20.62 of this additional protected payment, so I inherit half of it - £10.31 per week.  I don't know if that amount is fixed permanently, or if it rises by the same % increases as the State Pension.  So certainly worth a call to ask.

uss_tish

@vickyholly big hugs to you and Holly. 

uss_tish

@BooJewels thanks for explaining how to investigate pension I’ll add it to the to do list along with sorting out leaky roof, getting the boiler looked at etc etc. 

Despite feeling overwhelmed at times when things go wrong, I do get a sense of achievement when I can get stuff sorted, especially if I have fixed it myself. I can now wallpaper and do other various odd jobs around the house so saving a bit of money not having to get someone else in to do it.

BooJewels

@uss_tish - I've got those t-shirts too.  I decided in November when the heating went again to just get a new boiler - which I've been very happy about - and I'm pencilled in for July to get my roof repaired - I have a bucket on my desk.  Finding a decent roofer is a nightmare and if they are any good, have a long waiting list.  I now need to find a painter who will do my 10 large Georgian windows - that looks like a very tedious task - they needed doing 15 years ago!  I'm definitely not built for ladders.

Actually you're right about the sense of achievement - when I think about some of the stuff I've done - but wallpapering - I can't see that ending well - it would get sticky and messy very quickly, as my rooms are very tall.  So hats off to you for that one.

uss_tish

@BooJewels think my leaky roof issue is worthy of whole other thread 🤣🤣. 14 months, 6 roofing companies and various fixes and it still leaks! 

BooJewels

Ouch @uss_tish - my failure has just been getting people out to even look at it - it's a very tall, steep pitch, so I think they look at street view and just decide not to bother.  Gosh, that must be frustrating.  And expensive.  I wish you luck.

vickyholly

Just an update ,i just rang about about the pensions, Theyve sent a form off, but dont think i will be entitled to anything , because of our ages missing the 2016 change, I still have 7 years to make up to get my full state pension, So i may have to get a job again at some point just cant do it at the moment because my daughter needs so much support, Or i can do voluntary NI contributions each year which at the moment is about 800 pounds. Thanks for your help x