How long does it take the survivor to receive the widow pension?

J_forest

Hello,

My friend's husband retired 6 years ago and they moved to another country. Yesterday he died after a fall.

They don't have children together but he had two adult children from his previous marriage. My friend doesn't know whether he had a will but he used to say he would leave everything to the survivor. 

My friend has informed the local embassy about the death so presumably the state pension will stop straight away. Will she be entitled some of his state pension?

He also had British Coal pension and NHS pension but she doesn't know his credentials as all three pension used to go to their joint account monthly. Should she contact these pension providers to report the death or ask a solicitor to handle it? Which will be quicker?

Does anyone know the answers? 

Thank you

J_Forest

Marcon

J_forest said:

Hello,

My friend's husband retired 6 years ago and they moved to another country. Yesterday he died after a fall.

They don't have children together but he had two adult children from his previous marriage. My friend doesn't know whether he had a will but he used to say he would leave everything to the survivor. 




 

Which usually means someone hasn't quite got round to actually making a will... Depending on the country in which they lived at the time of his death, and where/how any assets are held, the rules of intestacy should ensure his widow gets a good chunk (or possibly all) of his estate.

J_forest said:

My friend has informed the local embassy about the death so presumably the state pension will stop straight away. Will she be entitled some of his state pension?



 

Possibly. Best bet would be for her to contact the Pension Service: https://www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service

J_forest said:

He also had British Coal pension and NHS pension but she doesn't know his credentials as all three pension used to go to their joint account monthly. Should she contact these pension providers to report the death or ask a solicitor to handle it? Which will be quicker?



 

It'll be cheaper for her to contact the pension providers herself - and probably quicker, since they can tell her direct what information they need (eg death certificate, her birth certificate, marriage certificate etc).

J_forest

Thank you very much! 

She had a quotation of 1k for the paperwork of getting the pensions. The solicitor will charge separately for transferring the money to her account. 

Marcon

J_forest said:

Thank you very much! 

She had a quotation of 1k for the paperwork of getting the pensions. The solicitor will charge separately for transferring the money to her account. 

She doesn't need a solicitor at all in respect of state or private pensions - that's at least £1K saved!

Marcon

Another thought - worth her while checking if he had any other pensions or savings/bank accounts which might have been overlooked. A good starting point (free) is Gretel.co.uk

J_forest

Yes I think so but she probably cannot think straight right now...

Silvertabby

J_forest said:

Thank you very much! 

She had a quotation of 1k for the paperwork of getting the pensions. The solicitor will charge separately for transferring the money to her account. 

I very much doubt that British Coal or the NHS would pay widow's benefits, if due, to a third party.  The LGPS certainly wouldn't.

No need to consult a solicitor or FA in any case - your friend needs to contact them herself.  

xylophone

How old is your friend? Is she in receipt of a UK state pension?

When did her spouse start to receive his state pension?

https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/report-without-tell-us-once#:~:text=Contact the bereavement service to,funeral costs or other benefits.&text=If they were living abroad,the International Pension Centre instead.

If they were living abroad when they died, contact the International Pension Centre instead.

British Coal Pension

https://www.bcsss-pension.org.uk/death-of-a-member/advising-about-the-death-of-a-member/

NHS pension

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensioner-hub/bereavement/letting-us-know-pensioner-member-has-died

The widow should contact the Administrators herself.

J_forest

Silvertabby said:

J_forest said:

Thank you very much! 

She had a quotation of 1k for the paperwork of getting the pensions. The solicitor will charge separately for transferring the money to her account. 

I very much doubt that British Coal or the NHS would pay widow's benefits, if due, to a third party.  The LGPS certainly wouldn't.

No need to consult a solicitor or FA in any case - your friend needs to contact them herself.  

Is the third party, the solicitor?

Marcon

J_forest said:

Silvertabby said:

J_forest said:

Thank you very much! 

She had a quotation of 1k for the paperwork of getting the pensions. The solicitor will charge separately for transferring the money to her account. 

I very much doubt that British Coal or the NHS would pay widow's benefits, if due, to a third party.  The LGPS certainly wouldn't.

No need to consult a solicitor or FA in any case - your friend needs to contact them herself.  

Is the third party, the solicitor?

Yes (or anyone other than the widow, in this case).

J_forest

xylophone said:

How old is your friend? Is she in receipt of a UK state pension?

When did her spouse start to receive his state pension?

https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/report-without-tell-us-once#:~:text=Contact the bereavement service to,funeral costs or other benefits.&text=If they were living abroad,the International Pension Centre instead.

If they were living abroad when they died, contact the International Pension Centre instead.

British Coal Pension

https://www.bcsss-pension.org.uk/death-of-a-member/advising-about-the-death-of-a-member/

NHS pension

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensioner-hub/bereavement/letting-us-know-pensioner-member-has-died

The widow should contact the Administrators herself.

Thanks. I have sent her all these links early this morning.

She is in her forties. Her late husband started to receive state pension 6 years ago.