I have received a letter out of the blue about my mums unclaimed private pension

[pud12342]

Mum was 58 when she died 5 years ago. I have received a letter today from Aviva saying that they may owe me money for an unclaimed pension. I called them and it turns out it’s 3 unclaimed pensions that where all taken out in 1988. I am thinking that knowing my mum she would have put very little into them as we where pretty skint growing up. They are apparently sending me some forms to fill out and I will need to send death certificate and probate cert. it seems bonkers that they have only just been in touch. Has this happened to anyone else. Just wondering how much form filling is involved and what are the time frames. I know it sounds daft but just getting the letter bought back the grief of losing mum. I don’t want the hassle of all this for what I am guessing will be a very small amount

About 6 months after my mum died, we received an “annual” statement on a life policy for my dad, who died 3 years before mum. We never knew about the policy, mum was beneficiary. We spoke to them and a copy of each death certificate and one easy form and we received approximately £1,000 shared between the 4 children.

I’m sure the form won’t be too onerous.

@YesIDoLoveCrisps

I would get the money off them and put it away until you feel ready in your heart to make a choice, don’t rush. Five years can feel like five minutes so it’s ok to still be sad.

I agree with this. It's particularly hard given your parents were broke but think how happy they'd be to know you have avoided that sort of hardship.

My DM died in 2010, I had a letter from Prudential in 2017, saying there was a pension. Filled the form in & received £6000 that was shared with 4 siblings.

if you don't need the money, do something that your mum and dad would have liked to do.. maybe donate it to a charity that they would have liked to support if they had the chance...

Hi OP, I'm so sorry for your loss. Pensions companies aren't automatically updated about deaths, so probably just did a check as the policy was approaching retirement age.

The form will probably be quite straightforward, confirming your mum's identity (date of birth etc) and yours. Please do claim it, your mum would want you to have it. Just want to note too, the insurance company have a duty to pay the money out to the correct person, so they will most likely contact you again if you dont respond to try to pay the money out to your mum's estate - if you dont want the money you would probably need to put that in writing or you are likely to receive other letters.

Please also check by googling avivas phone number and confirming the info in the letter with them before providing any personal details, particularly bank details, to ensure this isnt a scam, as there are a lot of pension scams out there. It sounds reasonable but best to be safe.

The form will be to confirm her details ie date of death, if you are the sole child or the details of any other surviving children and if you have the Certificate of Probate (whatever its called) to act on behalf of any other beneficiaries I. E. Brothers or sisters or if they are dead their children. Aviva payout was within a week for my parent.

I wonder how much it would be.

Imagine your mum's smile if she could see some money being handed over to you on her behalf.

OP I used to send out such letters (not for Aviva - another life office). The paperwork will be minimal and the amount, given growth since the 1980s could be a very tidy sum.

If you don’t return the firm, they will just keep contacting you for a while.