Claiming Outstanding Wages and Closing Pension Policies

Whether you use a pad of Basildon Bond and a fountain pen or Microsoft Word and a laser pen, there’s certainly a lot of letter writing involved when administering the estate of someone who has died.

If the deceased was working, write to the employer and enclose a copy of the death certificate. Firms usually want to see the grant of probate before paying outstanding wages to an estate.

Thankfully, you can notify the Department of Work and Pensions using the Tell Us Once service, which lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. That saves a stamp. This service is available at Southampton register office but not every region of the country has been signed up to it.

As for private or company pensions and life insurance policies, I’m afraid it’s more letter writing. Inform the providers, again enclosing a copy of the death certificate, and ask for a calculation of the final statement.

Don’t forget that postage costs, which, let’s face it, are not cheap nowadays, can be claimed back from the estate.

For help with the probate process, contact Heritage Will Writing on 02380 879243.