Anyone know anything about the Teachers Pension scheme

[lampygirl]

My mother had a teachers pension, and when she died my father received a reduced spousal pension from it, from mid 2020 to mid 2024. Am I right in thinking that now he has died the pension dies with him, as I believe it is a defined benefit pension?

We can't find any info regarding the policy, but we know he was getting it from bank statements.

We can't get through to anything or anyone at the Teachers Pension service who seems to know. They just keep referring us back to completing a claim form via online services, and it's been 3 months since my father's death now.

We have to submit the full IHT400 inheritance tax forms for the estate, so need to know that the pension stops and that there are no fixed term payments due to the estate or anything like that, for IHT409. We are not fussed that there is likely nothing to pass, but it's holding up the rest of the proceedings and has been for quite some time.

Either does anyone know, or does anyone have any contacts at teachers pension bereavement services who might be helpful?

Almost everyone else we have dealt with couldn't have been more helpful (both deaths were sudden/unexpected and reasonably young (early retirement, not state pension age) so the row of ducks is somewhat wibbly, but these guys, and NS&I, are like the representatives of 'computer says no'

I'm pretty sure that Teacher's pensions cease on the pensioner's death or that of their survivor in the circs you outline.

Certainly, when my Mother who was a retired Teacher, died there was an amount to the date of death but no more.

Like most UK public sector schemes the Teacher's Pension is unfunded. Ongoing payments come from the taxpayer plus the contributions of those serving in the classroom now.

Yes, it will die with him as he was receiving a dependant’s pension rather than a pension he built up in his own right.

We had a similar issue getting details of a pension prior to applying for probate, we were advised by a solicitor to go ahead and submit without this detail as of there was a payment due to someone it would fall outside of the estate - it would be paid to the person named as a beneficiary to the pension rather than to the estate if that makes sense.

I’m sorry for your loss

I don't know what the situation is BUT are you speaking to someone who deals with the death of the pensioners or just the general staff - often these schemes have a specific teams where matters for recipients who have died are dealt with and they know exactly what you need. I dealt with my Dads pension scheme from local government which wouldn't be that much different, one phone call in and they sorted it all, made sure any smaller portions were dealt with either owed or having to be repaid and they confirmed in writing that there was no exit payment or similar due. This was then used for probate. Initial submissions for probate purposes do not have to be perfect there is opportunity down the line to amend/adjust things. All sorts often comes out not just financial issues but others. The lady up the road from me her partner died and whilst he had a will it was challenged by a son no one knew he had!! So it all had to be done again

Things get better is also correct regarding the pension lump sum named beneficiary. The few pounds that may or may not be owed either way for the pension payment are really insignificant in the scheme of things. Oh and they will only deal with an executor and wld need copies of everything as well - death cert, will etc and more than likely originals

I thought that the Teachers Pension scheme is the only one that actually IS funded? Hence the high amounts that schools (and teachers) have to pay into it. I think it was about 30% of salary when I was last working (in school admin).

I think the only big public sector scheme that's funded is the local government one.

The additional amounts paid into unfunded schemes like that for Teachers or the Civil Service were a fraud by governments of every stripe to cut net pay and save cash.

There's a really good facebook group called Teachers' Pensions - Teacher to Teacher UK). Someone in there may be able to help

I'm pretty sure it stops. The website death benefits page says "How long will my family continue to receive a pension?
If you were in service on or after 1 January 2007 any adult pension will be paid for your beneficiary’s lifetime."
There is also the possibility of benefits to children u18/other dependents but presumably that would be on the members death (not their spouse's).

Thanks all. My understanding of defined benefit pensions is that they die with the recipient (as opposed to private pensions where we already know this is to be passed at the discretion of the provider, outside of IHT)

I’ll see if I can get to someone who knows. We’ve had to submit all sorts to them (myself and my sister are the executors and beneficiaries, no other family involvement) so will, death cert etc has already gone in. Maybe they are just slow.

Worst case we will just submit with what we believe to be correct (nothing to pass to the estate of note - the death was early in the month so even where there are small arrears due for monthly things it’s been pittance, and he was only receiving around 900/month beforehand so worst case it will be a couple of hundred quid seen as cash belonging to the which is neither here nor there on the tax thresholds, no changes in the last 2 yrs and no death benefits payable.

@RB68 that sounds a nightmare!! Thankfully I’m almost 100% sure there will be no family kick off here

I work in public sector pensions, it definitely stops with your dad’s passing away.

Once the original recipient passes away, continuing pensions are only paid to those who qualify for them i.e. spouses, eligible partners and eligible children. Once those dependants die or stop being eligible for the dependant’s pension that’s it and nothing else is payable (except any arrears due up to the date of death, depending when they were able to stop the payments).

Ask in this group

www.facebook.com/share/g/uiyjHkmWk1ZXLnJ3/?mibextid=K35XfP