Pension stopped

sgthammer

Mum's work pension didn't pay out this month.

We phoned the provider and learned they'd sent a form out to her old address back in October, which obviously she hadn't returned. So that explains part of it, although we're none the wiser about why it was sent out in the first place.

She's since received the form, which is a "declaration of entitlement" and has to be witnessed by a bank officer, doctor, lawyer or minister of religion. But her bank won't sign it and neither will her GP.

This is a vulnerable 85-year-old who's been in receipt of this without any problems for 20 years. Why is it suddenly an issue now? Do we really have to hunt around for a lawyer to take care of it? How much will they charge for a signature? Can we get legal aid, or charge the cost to the pension provider?

I've never heard the like.

HedgehogRulez

checking to see if she’s popped her clogs

BlackKnightMonty

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6656530/pension-stopped

solicitor will likely charge £5-10, possibility more if it is a big form.

dunstonh

We phoned the provider and learned they'd sent a form out to her old address back in October, which obviously she hadn't returned. So that explains part of it, although we're none the wiser about why it was sent out in the first place.

a proof of life request.

This is a vulnerable 85-year-old who's been in receipt of this without any problems for 20 years. Why is it suddenly an issue now?

Because she is an 85 year old and not immortal.

 Do we really have to hunt around for a lawyer to take care of it?

The pension provider or administrator will usually have a fallback list that may include other professionals or may allow the post office proof of ID service.

Can we get legal aid, or charge the cost to the pension provider?

no.

I've never heard the like.

Happens frequently and is quite normal. Typically, when the response is quick, no added information is required. However, when the person fails to respond, additional checks may be requested.

Ayr_Rage

"Proof of life" is often required with pension schemes, including for state pensioners who live overseas and find the international mail system flaky at times then suddenly find a form that needed to be completed has gone astray or is very much delayed, which means their SP is not paid.

As she didn't keep her address up to date the onus is on your mother to complete the required documentation and suck up the associated costs.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6656530/pension-stopped

It's a proof of life, pension/annuity providers require them every so often depending on your age and where you live… if you are overseas it's normally more frequent.

A commissioner of oaths/ public notary should charge £5, it's fixed by law, but many will add on extra services which will push you into low £100s. I paid just £5 for an affidavit after a few conversations about that I should be paying them to do a legal review of the content but as I pointed out, its a fixed declaration that cannot be altered so if I wanted the passport I will have to sign it unchanged so no point paying for a legal review and that was in the City of London where lawyers are the most expensive in the UK.

Check with the pension provider, they often are willing to accept a much broader range of people on the signature as long as they are "morally upstanding" and not related to the person.

elsien

And if she hasn’t made a power-of-attorney, you might want to suggest that she does so.

I work with someone who lost mental capacity around finances. He had one of the proof of life forms which he was unable to complete, after ignoring several previous letters. His private pension hasn’t been able to be paid since because it’s a comparatively small amount so not worth doing a financial deputyship for.

sgthammer

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81895748#Comment_81895748

I'd have been less surprised if it was the DWP. I'm used to their ways. But all ID/residency issues there would have been addressed with her Attendance Allowance application I suppose.

Thanks all.