Question Re State Pension

[grandpajoe]

My wife and I were talking to the wife's aunt, who is in her mid 80s,about state pensions. She said that she wasn't quite sure but she said she got a cheque every 3 months for £70 or so. We were shocked to say the least but she was adamant that that was all she got. Surely even if she was negligent about her contribution, she should be getting more that this?? Is there anyway we can investigate this( we can get her Nat ins number) Cheers Chris

[fiction-factory]

She must have had a huge savings pot when she retired if she has survived on a pension of around £5 a month!

[fiction-factory]

I'd ask her to show you her bank statement or pension correspondence, although I can she may not want to show you

[wolf63]

Is there any way that she will let you see her bank statement to see what money is going into it?

I helped my dad to fill up a benefit form once (it took hours and I had completed many for other people previously) and he told me that he had no savings, it transpired (thankfully before sending the form off) that he had a generous amount of savings - but he said that it was funeral costs and money that my brother and I could inherit. I nearly strangled him.

Your aunt-in-law may be getting an income but she may think of it as something other than a pension.

[Mamyalynne]

That's an odd figure and a low one - could it perhaps be a small amount of Pension Savings Credit?

[aelmpvw]

i didn't think state pensions could be paid via cheques?

[fiction-factory]

Does she get an employer's pension as well? I think there is almost certainly a misunderstanding here

[fiction-factory]

State pension will almost certainly be being paid direct to her bank rather than by cheque

[andres]

Has she been married? If so she might be getting a pension based on her husbands contributions. That's if she never contributed or if she paid the housewives stamp. If that's the case then £70 weekly would be feasible but not every three months.I don't understand why she is getting paid by a cheque.

[grandpajoe]

Thank you everyone. Wife's aunt has a son and wife not going to get involved. I just find it a very strange situation for her to be in. But 87 is an age when one gets confused about things so we'll let it lie for now. She was surprised when I told her what my wife gets in state pension. "So much? It's all right for some" she replied. I reminded her that that was what ALL pensioners got. Thanks for all the replies Chris

[sivam]

grandpajoe. Confused at 87. Not necessarily so !!

[Mamyalynne]

If Aunt is managing to pay for usual overheads and food then possibly her Son does the finances, unless she has asked for help perhaps best left.

[johnk]

My mother once told me her benefits all together had been reduced to £5 but when I read the letter her works pension had been increased by £5. She's probably just confused.

[andres]

Not everyone gets the same pension and not everyone gets confused when they get into their 80s.