Old age pension for brits abroad

[evedawn]

Really need assistance from someone in the know.

My mum in law (89yrs old) lives in south africa. She is suffering from senile onset demetia. We do not have power of attorney.

The problem is: She has been in receipt of 2 governmet pensions. Her old age pension and her "widows" pension. These have both suddenly been stopped. We think that it is because this has always needed to be confirmed via writing (from herself) that she is still alive and well. However, with her mind not been very good (understatement!) she has not done - hence I guess the goverrnment thinks she's no longer living.

She is in a care home which costs the earth and without these two pensions it means there is not enough money to pay the monthly fees.

How can we prove to the pensions dept that she is still alive and needs the money? Who / what dept do we ring? If my husband does need to fly to SA to sort out power of attorney it will not be for a few months at least!

I know a few years back I needed to sort out some pension details for her and they were not able to help me at all over the phone as they needed to deal with her direct (I guess cos lots of old folks kids try syphon the money off for themselves or defraud the system) but...it is NOT for us ....she really needs the money to continue to pay for her care.

[evedawn]

PS - she is a british citizen - having lived and worked her all through her childhood and entire working life. she moved to SA late in life. it's her BRITISH pensions we are enquiring about.

[Hymie]

You are possibly correct in that the pensions are not being paid, since your mother-in-law has not confirmed she is alive.

I would contact the DWP as soon as possible, on behalf of your mother-in-law (quoting NI number & DOB always helps), to find out what has happened.

I have heard of people having to present themselves to their local British consulate in order to continue receiving their pension (including private company pensions).

If this is required for you mother-in-law, I�m certain arrangements for a representative of the consulate to call on her can be made

[TCL-MUMPING]

The International Pension Centre (IPC) which is part of The Pension Service and deals wi benefits for those living abroad.

It�s not likely they think yir mother-in-law has died, more likely they have sent something to her that needs a reply or has been returned as undelivered, either way they think there has been a change in her circumstances that may affect her entitlement so they have stopped payments hoping she�ll be in contact.

If she is in a care home I would have thought that someone there would be handling any post received so it may be worthwhile contacting the home to see if she�s had any UK post recently.

Also you can contact the IPC to tell them the situation and find out what you can do by way of getting someone to act on her behalf so the pension can be re-instated asap.

You can get contact details here, http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/contactus/ contact-pod-form.asp

[buildersmate]

This is surely going to be an occupational pension for a civil servant? - not something to do with State Pension (basic and add-ons).

[TCL-MUMPING]

What makes you think that? The UK has reciprocal agreements with a fair few countries whereby folk entitled to UK benefits continue to receive them abroad.

[Schutzengel]

It could possibly be - state retirement pension, and a works pension from employment in the private sector.

[buildersmate]

Yes, I appreciate the reciprocal agreements, Corby.
I was merely thinking that we need to understand whether it is the Pension Service involved in this issue, or private pension administrators.
Folks on larger pensions tend to be drawing them not from the State (apart from the Basic State pension).

[evedawn]

hi thanks for all your help AB'ers. I plan to ring both the DWP and the IPC today.

Buildersmate - yes it is definately state pension - they used to deposit it straight into her bank account every month.