Survivor Pensions

QQQQQQQQ_Y

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6661394/survivor-pensions

You should contact his LGPS pension administrators, there is a survivor's pension for widows/widowers in the LGPS scheme. This pension is payable also to unmarried partners and to civil partners. The amount paid varies depending on when they joined the LGPS as there have been several rule changes over the last 20+ years, but generally the survivor's pension is between c25% - 50% of the pension sum. There are also transitionary payments in some circumstances which may be higher.

The scheme administrators will have the details, I would not get hung up on finding a marriage certificate prior to contacting the scheme administrators as it is quite possible that your late father has already registered your mother as his nominee at some point in the past and they are already aware of her details.

AlanP_2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938789#Comment_81938789

Fair enough, perhaps you meant something different to how I interpreted your words.

QQQQQQQQ_Y

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938796#Comment_81938796

I think the priority should be to contact the pensions administrators and inform them of their father's death, regardless of whether they can immediately lay their hands on a marriage certificate.

At some stage I'm guessing the administrators will want ID documents and also a copy of a death certificate (though I don't know the details).

The LGPS used to have a spousal nomination form, but this stopped as it was held that there was discriminatory practice around non-married couples. If I recall correctly there was a case where a couple had co-habited for many years but no nomination was recorded as the man died prior to it being completed. The scheme administrators asserted that no pension was payable to his partner. The court ruled against the administrators and effectively made this form void - but many people completed them prior to this and it may exist for this person's father

Silvertabby

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938807#Comment_81938807

Not the same thing at all. But this is partly why I asked OP when his dad had left LGPS employment - if after 1 April 2008, then they MAY be able to base the survivor's pension on co-habiting partner rules. But if he left before that date, then benefits could be only be paid to a legally married spouse, on production of a marriage certificate.

As a further complication, benefits paid to co-habiting partners are limited to post 1988 service only (which is why also asked when dad had joined the scheme).

Marcon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938853#Comment_81938853

OP - Silvertabby is a retired LGPS administrator with very considerable knowledge and experience of this horribly complicated scheme, so definitely worth listening to what she has to say.

bigpappa

I have contacted the scheme administrators and they are sending me out a pack to complete. I hope it is straight forward.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Marcon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939410#Comment_81939410

Come back and post again if you need any help. In addition to @Silvertabby we have at least one other person here with detailed knowledge of the scheme - a current LGPS administrator @Lemon_dr1zzle - so plenty of expertise on tap.

bigpappa

Just an update -how does this work for state pension. I called the Pension Service and informed them of death and asked about how it will affect my mums pension - they said you can claim a widower pension?

But how can you claim if you don't know what your income is as I thought reading below my mum might be able to receive part of my dad state pension?

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/inheriting-or-increasing-state-pension-from-a-spouse-or-civil-partner

This is all new and confusing to me so sorry if the questions seem inane.

molerat

State pension inheritance rules are different depending on state pension entitlement starting pre or post April 2016.

bigpappa

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939638#Comment_81939638

Father reached state pension age october 2002 and mum Jan 2010.