Dying In Thailand

[Big Boy]

OK guys, a happy ending to this one. My wife received a phone call from Sarge's widow this morning. She had received a payment into her bank account well in excess of what we expected. Obviously many of those questions were as stupid as they seemed, and didn't require an answer.

I'm feeling quite smug today, having achieved what I thought was the impossible.

I only hope that if I turn my toes up first, there is somebody there to help Mrs BB in a similar way.

[Bristolian]

Well done BB and Mrs BB. Sarge would be delighted.

[Norseman]

Yes, very well done BB.

[lindosfan1]

Well done BB lesson to be learned there about providing details for when you die.

[BOZ]

Great news, nice job there BB!!!

[migrant]

Very nice!

[margaretcarnes]

Great news BB - well done. It's a good buzz when something like that is achieved and Sarge would be well pleased.

[magobligin]

Great news BB, very well done I'm very pleased for Sarges widow.

Incidentally, I had to answer all the questions you posed in item 1 of your original post when I applied online for my UK state pension. I agree that the questions are bordering on stupid but I completed those I knew and simply wrote " don't remember" in those questions that I did not know. Result was my pension was paid in on time and no one ever approached me for any clarification but I did retain a hard copy of my submitted application just in case.

Regards

[hhinner]

Yes, well done BB. Mrs. Sarge might also be eligible for a pension in about 20 years. Or not. I don't think this (or any UK) government is to be trusted that far ahead where expat affairs are concerned.

Anyway, for those wishing to know more, a good place to start, apart from BB and this thread, is https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-allowance/eligibility. There is a phone number, given on that page under the heading International Pension Centre. It is actually the bereavements department - or was when I called it earlier this year. The person who answered was very helpful and polite and sounded very much like someone who would be sympathetic when talking to a person in actual need of his services.

I had called to ask about the procedures for my wife to follow in the case of my untimely demise. He talked about the bereavement package of course. But more surprisingly, to me anyway, he mentioned that my wife would still be entitled to a pension in her own right (based on my national insurance contributions). I had thought this spouse pension was now discontinued but he insisted it was still available and that she should contact the international pensions department when her pension date (which he provided based on her birth date) approached. The reason I had called bereavements in the first place was that both the National Insurance and the Pensions Department said my wife would need a National Insurance Number (NINO) to get anything, but they couldn't say how she would get one. Eventually one of them gave me that phone number. The bereavements chap explained that my wife would be assigned a NINO if and when any payments became due.

Cheers.

[Big Boy]

The reason I had called bereavements in the first place was that both the National Insurance and the Pensions Department said my wife would need a National Insurance Number (NINO) to get anything, but they couldn't say how she would get one. Eventually one of them gave me that phone number. The bereavements chap explained that my wife would be assigned a NINO if and when any payments became due.

Cheers.

Yes, they issued Mrs Sarge a NI number. Strange thing was that it was a different format, and wouldn't fit into the boxes on the many forms we had to complete.

[PeteC]

Really good job BB. When this forum started I think it was all about people helping people, and it's good to see that still applies today. Pete