Trying to get death in service payment

[Scrabsqueak]

Hi,
my bil died in Feb. He worked for GM/Vauxhall for at least 30 years. We were informed he would be entitled to a death in service payment. I have jumped through many hoops providing evidence they require, when I enquired today as to when to expect case to be resolved, received email back saying person involved no longer working there, all enquiries to be sent to a generic email.
I have a solicitor dealing with his estate (apparently DIS not necessarily part of this) would I be as well just handing this over to her?
I really cannot face starting from scratch again with new contact.
I almost wouldn’t care but the poor man earned that money, and deserves the company to acknowledge him.

Depends, a new person does not mean a new claim.

Have you provided all the information? Are their trustees involved?

Yes, I have provided all information, and then some it feels like eg getting his 87 year old mother to sign letters about her interests etc. I believe it is the trustees it has all been sent to. It is the fact I have had no contact from them for 3 weeks an no longer have a specific person I know is involved. The official turn around for this is 4-6 weeks, it’s been 3 months.

My DH death in service benefit took 3 months and was all straight forward. Had he filled an expression of wishes form about it as that might be holding it up ?

If he did, they have not told me. I am the sole beneficiary of the will, which is at the solicitor’s now.
The branch of Vauxhall/GM he worked for has now closed down last month. It’s all been very frustrating already and now losing the only contact I had is worrying me. I am wondering if I should just hand the whole email string over to the solicitor and let them deal with this too, as they are having to deal with issues with his will (he drew it up with a company which has since gone into liquidation and they were the witnesses and executors)

Is the death in service benefit from a pension scheme or from the company? If the former they may need to wait until the next quarterly trustee meeting to approve it, particularly if there was no expression of wish form.

Typically it is in the trustee's discretion to decide who to pay it to. It would be relatively unusual for his sister in law to be the sole beneficiary, so they need to check out the circumstances to determine whether it would be more appropriate to pay it to someone else such as his elderly mother.

You don't need the solicitor to do it. Just forward the email chain to the generic address and ask for an update. Worst case ask to put in an IDRP complaint, but I'd give them a chance to come back first. Things don't move quickly in pensions.

I think it’s the company. I’m also dealing with his pension and that’s loads of the same info, but not connected apparently. I was surprised to be beneficiary, but as bil only 54 when he died and Mil 87, I don’t imagine he ever thought she’d outlive him! There is no one else, no partner/ spouse, no children, no siblings ( my DH died 4 years ago) only me and my daughters.
I am exhausted dealing with everything especially as I live 400 miles away and legal system different. I’m not going to deny the money would be nice, but I don’t really care if it goes to Mil, as long as it’s dealt with!

I would get his trade union involved if he was in one. Otherwise submit a formal complaint - tends to get them focused.
Sorry you are having to deal with this, terrible they are not giving this matter the respect it deserves.

Well, letter came today.
Been resolved and I have been awarded a (my) life changing amount.
Thank you everyone for all your help and support.
Am actually in a bit of shock, still processing, so grateful to BIL for his gift, but so sorry we had to lose him for it to happen.