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

J_forest

Okay. I will tell about the third party thing.

On the other hand, they have 3 properties out there. One is under her name, one is under both names and the other one I am not sure. Does she need a solicitor for the one under both names because he had two daughters (adult) and no will in place?

QrizB

J_forest said:

Okay. I will tell about the third party thing.

On the other hand, they have 3 properties out there. One is under her name, one is under both names and the other one I am not sure. Does she need a solicitor for the one under both names because he had two daughters (adult) and no will in place?

This will depend largely on the laws of "out there".

Marcon

J_forest said:

Okay. I will tell about the third party thing.

On the other hand, they have 3 properties out there. One is under her name, one is under both names and the other one I am not sure. Does she need a solicitor for the one under both names because he had two daughters (adult) and no will in place?

Without knowing which country the couple lived in, it's impossible to answer that. Much depends on local law - so a local solicitor is likely to be helpful, or possibly essential, to try and sort out what could be a bit of a mess if there was no will.

J_forest

Ah yes of course! Thank you.

Silvertabby

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.      .

xylophone

Your friend's spouse would have received a P60 each year from his two DB pension schemes and there should also be correspondence about the annual pension increase - these will show his Scheme Reference number etc.

With regard to his state pension, it seems that he reached SPA post 5/4/16 ounder the new scheme.

Your friend is  in her forties so  at least twenty years away from SPA.

Has she obtained her own state pension forecast? 

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

If her husband had a "protected payment"  with his state pension (the pension was over £203.85 a week) it is possible that she might be entitled to half of this when she reaches SPA.

In the mean time, she may be entitled to  Bereavement Support Payment.

https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment/eligibility 

She will need to check on whether there is a valid  UK will - did he have a solicitor? It is possible that the original is held with the firm.

She should check with a local solicitor on inheritance laws in their country of residence.

She must be very shocked and distressed at her husband's sudden death, particularly if she was there when he fell. This happened to somebody I knew and it was fortunate that she had an adult son at hand to help and support her.

I do hope that your friend has someone close by to assist.

J_forest

Thank you for your sympathy. I couldn't image how traumatic it was at that moment. Unfortunately what I can do here is to filter information for her.

I don't think she has looked into her own state pension forecast so your point is very helpful.

What is Protected Pension? I have checked online but still don't have a clue. Any example?

I don't think she has seen any her late spouse's P60.  Their bank statements are forwarded to me while the rest is forwarded to one of his daughters. 

Yes she has hired a solicitor in the UK.  She has families near where their residential home is and one of her late spouse's brothers used to live there too, not sure whether he is still there though.  

xylophone

What is Protected Pension? I have checked online but still don't have a clue. Any example?

"Protected Payment"

If your friend's late spouse reached SPA after 5/4/16,  then he is receiving the new state pension.

If his state pension was over £203.85 a week,  the amount by which it was over is his "protected payment".

When your friend reaches SPA, she may be entitled to have half of this amount in addition to her own state pension.

I doubt that your friend is in any case to make her way through this but you may care to read it, bearing in mind that the NSP started 6/4/16 and that the figures in the document are 2013 figures.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a758e27e5274a6faebebd94/derived-inherited-entitlement.pdf

Page 15 seems relevant to her case.

J_forest

Thanks again for the above post.

Yes my friend's late spouse had over £203.85 a week. If I don't remember wrong, it was over £1000 a month.

My friend contacted me today saying not much progress was made from the solicitor. The Bereavement Support Payment that she tried to apply has no update either.

I have taken a look at gov.uk. It stays 

When your partner died, you must have been:

• under State Pension age
• living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits
• married to your partner, in a civil partnership with them, or living with them as if you were married

My friend is only 45. Does it mean she cannot have BSP?

xylophone

The Bereavement Support Payment that she tried to apply has no update either.

She is under SPA. 

Where is she living?

https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad/bereavement-benefits

If in one of the eligible countries, it may just be one of the delays which now seem inevitable in our public services.