Pension Query

LBrowne

Hi everyone, this is a strange one.

My Dad died quite a few years ago and left me his pension, however due to my age at the time it was agreed that the money would be paid to my "dad" who had agreed to take care of me (long story).

I never knew about the pension until recently and it has come to light following his separation from my "mum" and me leaving to live with my aunt and uncle.

Basically what I am asking is, is there any way to trace this pension and change it so it's paid to me as he is keeping the money due to his money troubles.

Thank you in advance
L

Brie

Presumably this would be a work pension as opposed to a state one.  And it was set up to be paid to you but via your "step dad"? 

If you know where your "real dad" worked that would be the place to start looking at the "trace my pension" website.  Otherwise it will be a case of getting your "step dad" to tell you the source of the pension.

Once known it should be possible to get the account it is paid to changed to one you have access to.  How willing the pension company will be to do this is hard to say without further details.

Marcon

It might depend on the type of pension and what exactly was agreed. 

If it was a 'defined benefit' scheme, you might have been eligible for a 'child's pension' until you reached the age of 18 (or possibly a little older if in full time training or education), when payments would stop. 

If it was a 'defined contribution' scheme, then it's possible the whole 'pot' of money was paid over to your (?)stepdad at the time. It's less likely that this would be paid as a pension, because any instalments would be tiny given how young you were/how long the money would have to last.

There is also likely to be an issue in demonstrating that your stepdad misused the money. It may have been paid to him to use 'for your benefit' while you were a child, in which case proving he did something else with the funds will be tricky.

What exactly does your 'mum' know about all this?

Silvertabby

If it was paid as a one-off lump sum, then it's between you and your step dad, I'm afraid.

But if it is still being paid as a monthly payment, and you are at least 16, then you should be able to ask the pension provider to change the payment details to your own bank account.  Or, if you are under 16, then your aunt and uncle could ask for the payments to be made to them, as your carers.  Your step dad would probably have to agree to this.

Rule of thumb is that children's pension payments are only paid until age 18/age 23 if still in full time education, the exception being if the child has a permanent disability, when the pension could be paid for life.

Do you know which pension scheme is paying/paid this money?

LBrowne

I am in college education, starting my 2nd year in September. It is paid monthly and works out around £620 per year.

It was a stagecoach pension I believe as he was a bus driver.

Thanks again

Marcon

Sounds like a defined benefit scheme. I'd write to the trustee of the pension scheme and explain the position (carefully and unemotionally, however cross you may feel!), asking if you can now have the pension paid to you directly and confirming  your age and that you are still in full time education. They will need to ask you for certain information (eg birth certificate) to ensure you are who you say you are - that's routine, so don't be upset if you feel you are being 'quizzed'.

Stagecoach Pension Trustee Company Limited, 10 Dunkeld Road, Perth, Perthshire, United Kingdom, PH1 5TW