Pension letter

sunandmoonlady

Hello everyone and thanks for having me on board! My query is, on the 19th June I received a letter from a certain pension company asking for a response to help pay the benefits. The letter concerned my ex, now deceased husband. They told me the amount, and also that tax is now payable. They actually confirmed that he held the above policy with them.

There was a short straightforward form to fill in, which I did, and they also wanted a couple of copies of certificates, which I duly sent off. I recently wrote and asked how things were progressing, only to get a letter back saying they couldn't find MY details and they need more information such as type of policy and the start date etc! It was THEY that wrote to me concerning my ex's pension, I knew nothing of it.

Anyone throw any light on this please? I'm not a young lady by any means, and not in good health, it's very stressful.

Thanks so much x.

flaneurs_lobster

There's no problem if you want to name the pension company.

Not wishing to increase your stress levels in any way, but please assure us that this letter you received didn't ask you to make any payments to anyone?

Brie

Oh dear. I assume you didn't keep a copy of their letter anywhere? It's possible that they might find the policy if you can supply your ex's full name, date of birth and NI number. Likely all the correspondence including your initial response is there on his file but unprocessed for some reason.

sunandmoonlady

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82133308#Comment_82133308

Hi, Thanks, no they didn't ask for payments of any kind, and the pension company is Scottish Widows

JoeCrystal

It might be helpful to include exactly what policy that was held by him as well.

sunandmoonlady

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82133323#Comment_82133323

At the top of the letter it says Personal Pension Plan, no reference number, no policy number, just the amount to be paid and told to sign a potential beneficiaries form, and to include a couple of documents they want to see. Thankyou

sheramber

If you referred to a policy you may have confused them as the letter says it is a pension.

I would suggest you give them details that it is a pension plan in the name of Mr XXX , date of birth XXX.

JoeCrystal

That is very odd. I wonder if your name was noted down on the 'expression of wishes' form. Was your ex-husband is quite recently deceased, or it has been few years since?

It is possible that pension company may misunderstood what you are asking. Just make it clear that you been informed that you are a beneficiary of a pension plan and refer to his name, date of birth and NI if available (not sure NI is needed but considering they tend to be on pension plans, it might help)

Is there actually no references numbers on the cover letter you received with the forms? :o If so, it would be worth to refer to that as well.

sunandmoonlady

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82133373#Comment_82133373

We've been divorced over 20 years, and he passed away 8 years ago, myself and my now husband were the only ones to attend his funeral. Scottish Widows must be aware that I have remarried as the letter to me was addressed to my married name. Don't know how how I would get his N.I number, I don't think he even has any surviving family, it's all a bit of a headache. Thankyou for your reply

poseidon1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82133431#Comment_82133431

Sounds to me as if your ex husband may have nominated you on a very old personal pension plan he had prior to death and 8 years later Scottish Widows are knocking on your door as the only living 'beneficiary' they can make payment to.

https://www.unbiased.co.uk/news/pensions-retirement/how-your-ex-might-still-inherit-your-pension

What is not clear is the reason for the 8 year delay, and why none of this was dealt with in a much more timely manner post death.

You say only you and your present husband attended the funeral so that begs the question who actually wound up your ex husband's financial affairs at the time, and how this matter seemingly slip though the net.

Suggest to move things send a copy back to SW of their original letter to you, and point out they will know far more than you details related to this policy.

dunstonh

, only to get a letter back saying they couldn't find MY details and they need more information such as type of policy and the start date etc! I

That is not unexpected. At this time, the policy is not in your name. It will still be in your ex-husband's name. Doing a search for you isn't going to yield any results. They need to do a search for your ex-husband. It's also possible that other potential beneficiaries have responded to them and they could have a better claim to the money than you.