Computer says you are dead. So no more pension for you.

[cakeorwine]

Retired teacher’s pension stopped as provider refuses to believe she is not dead | Pensions | The Guardian

This poor teacher seems to be getting mixed up with someone else who has died and her pension keeps being stopped.

They check against a register and write a letter

"The DfE told the Guardian that once a possible match has been identified, the beneficiary may be asked to confirm that they are not the same deceased stranger every 12 months since the system, administered by Capita, does not log a disproved link.
Letters sent to pensioners after a match state that a new process provides updates from the General Register Office on changes of personal circumstances and asks the recipient to get in touch. However, letters make no mention of a deadline or the fact that their payments will cease if they do not respond within 28 days. A spokesperson said this was “to avoid causing upset”.

So it's easy for a letter to go unnoticed - e.g someone is in hospital or on holiday.

Maybe they should take more steps to prove that the deceased person is the same as the person who they think is deceased?

Oh gosh. I don't know where to begin with that? Surely if you death certificates, they can certify life somewhere along the line? Letter from her GP or something?

You would have hoped some manual oversight to double check. And a marker on the account to say - no, she's not this person who is dead.

Sounds like Horizon were involved in the computer, Fuji whatsit (sp). Just when you think we've reached Peak Stupid...

That's just ridiculous and tone deaf from Teachers' Pensions.

She should probably involve her MP if it happens again. It must be very distressing to be told that you are considered to be dead when you are very much not.