Widow's State Pension Enquiry to DWP

Sleepysophie

After watching one of Martin's ITV shows around October 2022 I wrote to DWP on behalf of my Mum and my Mother in Law. I typed up the letter for them, they signed it. 

My Dad died in 1997 at 54 and my Father in Law died 2006 at 61. 

Both will have paid in their full NI contributions. FIL was receiving a pension at the time but my Dad had not yet retired. 

I thought there would be a quick check somewhere online that I could enter their details, just to make sure that both my Mum and MIL were receiving the correct amounts of State Pension but it wasn't that simple and so I thought a letter might just be the best thing in this circumstance. 

I just wondered how long it takes for DWP to reply to them. Will they even contact them to confirm, if what they are receiving is correct?

They are not getting the same amounts at the moment and both worked part time whilst raising children. For this reason, I think that at least one of them is not receiving the correct amount. 

Does anyone have experience of writing to DWP about this subject and how long it took for a reply? 

calcotti

Pension Service currently experiencing lengthy delays I wouldn't t try to guess how long a reply may take. Certainly worth chasing but you will need mum or MIL with you if you want to discuss their affairs.

There are lots of reasons why they may have different pension entitlement.

squirrelpie

Have you seen https://www.lcp.uk.com/widows-pensions-are-you-being-paid-the-right-amount/ and followed its link back to the government information https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/about-pensions/the-state-pension/death-benefits ?

There's quite a lot there to digest whilst you wait for a response from DWP.

xylophone

My Dad died in 1997 at 54 and my Father in Law died 2006 at 61. 

In which case both would have reached SPA in the old scheme.

Did their wives reach SPA before 6/4/16?

You may find this of interest - P21 onwards has a summary of the rules for  partners who both reached SPA under the old scheme.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181235/derived-inherited-entitlement.pdf

Ganga

xylophone said:

My Dad died in 1997 at 54 and my Father in Law died 2006 at 61. 

In which case both would have reached SPA in the old scheme.

Did their wives reach SPA before 6/4/16?

You may find this of interest - P21 onwards has a summary of the rules for  partners who both reached SPA under the old scheme.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181235/derived-inherited-entitlement.pdf

Would the father dying at 54 years old not have qualified for SP?

p00hsticks

Ganga said:

xylophone said:

My Dad died in 1997 at 54 and my Father in Law died 2006 at 61. 

In which case both would have reached SPA in the old scheme.

Did their wives reach SPA before 6/4/16?

You may find this of interest - P21 onwards has a summary of the rules for  partners who both reached SPA under the old scheme.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181235/derived-inherited-entitlement.pdf

Would the father dying at 54 years old not have qualified for SP?

Neither father (dying at 54 years) or father in law (dying at 61) reached state pension age.

But their widows may still be entitled to an increased state pension based on their late husbands NI contributions, and the rules relating to that will depend on whether their deceased husbands would have reached state pension age before or after the introduction of thhe new State Pension on 6th April 2016.

Sleepysophie

xylophone said:

My Dad died in 1997 at 54 and my Father in Law died 2006 at 61. 

In which case both would have reached SPA in the old scheme.

Did their wives reach SPA before 6/4/16?

You may find this of interest - P21 onwards has a summary of the rules for  partners who both reached SPA under the old scheme.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181235/derived-inherited-entitlement.pdf

In 2016 Mum would have been 73 and MIL would have been 68

Sleepysophie

Thank you for your responses. And for the links @squirrelpie @xylophone. I have to confess I find the whole thing difficult to understand. When I did the letters for them I ensured that I included their details like NI and Dates of birth etc. but would I have had to add my Dad's details too? I don't know what his NI number was? 

xylophone

Each of the widows would have become entitled to SP under the old scheme.

What exactly is shown on their annual statements of SP increased?

Sleepysophie

I don't know. I haven't seen either statement as I didn't know there was one. I will ask when next I see them. Thank you  @xylophone