Some very sad news ...

[scotty38]

Sorry to hear such sad news.

[Tom]

Oh John, that's awful. My sincerest condolences.

As said above, you're amongst friends here, stick around even if for the banter and support.

Take care

[Mycroft]

So sorry to hear your news and echo all the sentiments expressed above. Very best wishes.

James

[Richard]

Sincere condolences, 602! Wish you strength.
Richard

[582LTR]

I send you my condolences for you and those around you.

James

[Scotty]

So very sorry to hear of you're loss John, I was only thinking the other day that you hadn't been on here recently, please take care and don't be a stranger on here, I along with a lot of others on here enjoy you're posts, all the best and sending you our condolences. Paul Tash & Barney

[Gareth]

602, I've never met you, but I feel I know you through your posts on here. Please accept my condolences, it's a sad day. We're here to help you through.

[w3526602]

Hi Everybody,

Thankyou for your condolances ... they help more than you would believe.

Yes Gibbo, please call, anytime, but best to avoid lunch time, which is when I take Wilkie to my daughter's house in Bletchly (Milton Keynes), for my grandson to take him for his daily walk.

Hmmm! Born in 1939, I can remember search-lights and the noise of bomber engines over South London. More recently, I spent a couple of years in Malaya, with "my" Bristol Bloodhounds" defending the RAAF fighter base at Butterworth. not many Brits realise that Australian troops were fighting in Vietnam.

Barbara was sitting on the Swansea to Paddington train, when a little old lady commented ... "I'm surprised your mother lets you travel alone!"

"I'm flying out to Malaya tomorrow, to join my husband".

Does that count as a converationn stopper?

Barbara was stopped twice on the M4, at circa 115mph in her Honda CRX ... told not to do it again. As the DVLA Press Officer, she got drive on the skid pan at the Police driving school at Hendon.......

Doh! 0624hrs ... my ladies have arrived, to wash my bottom. I will return after brekky.

602

[Alan Drover]

Great to hear from you 602. I never met you but you're part of this community.
Like me, you've got your dog and keep going for his sake as I am. I look forward to further posts from you.

[Crumbly65]

My dear John.
I join the other members of this forum in sending you my condolences in the very sad loss of Barbara.
Those of us who have enjoyed your posts over the years know how much she meant to you.
Please remain on this forum. I have said before, the forum members here are friends We just haven't yet met in the actual world.
You are with your many friends here, and we are with you. Our heart and thoughts are with you in your sorrow.
May Barbara Rest In Peace.

[w3526602]

Hi

I return, my ladies have departed. Im' now looking for "financial" knowledge.

Along with the loss of Barbara . I think I have l lost her ATTENDANCE ALOWANCE of about £82pw (aka the Higher Rate)  of but I only get the Lower Rate of £55pw ) despite us both getting four visits per day. Imagine your household income suddenly dropping by £82 per week.

Then there is her STATE PENSION, and her CIVIL SERVICE PENSION. I have neither figure to hand, as our bank manager daughter as taken our bank statements home, to peruse for unnecessary payments. She has already pointed out several "charitable" donations, where my need is greater than theirs, and that Wilkies' pet insurance is a "three figure[" sum, and he is well into his teens.

My query is about Barbara's CIVIL SERVICE , pension ... probably about 40 years service, retiring as an HEO, despite passing an SEO promotion board two years previously  The Director of DVLA had decreed she should be the DVLA delegate to a DPM Task Force ... all Delegates to retain their existing rank and pay scale.. Most of the other delegates were Police Superintendents. Barbara let them buy the drinks in the hotel.

I'm asking .... as I am Barbara's "widower", will I inherit a percentage of her CS pension?  50% would be acceptable.

602

[Worf]

Hi John. I dont know the specifics of Government pensions or allowances, but at least there is one place that should help sort things for you. Perhaps your daughter could deal with this for you. She may of course already know this, but here is a link to it anyway https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once

I recently had to use this, so I know it works.

Hope this is of some help at such a difficult time.

Bruce (Worf)

[Twomokes]

This is the area of the PCSPS website that covers death benefits that you daughter should look at https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/knowledge-centre/pension-schemes/alpha-scheme-guide/death-benefits-section-06/

The are various schemes listed but given when Barbara would have retired you will be looking at the classic scheme.

[geoff]

Don't forget the council tax will reduce for sole occupancy, may need to contact council to set up this.

[w3526602]

Hi Everyone

Golly Gosh! What can I say?

I 've just woken up, in bed, fully dressed, but with no idea of what time I climbed in. My last memory is of apologising to the forum for breaking off as my ladies had just arrived ... probably late morning ... but what day?

My feelings are of having no sense of direction ... what am I going to do next? ... and where?

My daughter has been going through just one of my/our recent bank statements. She says it has an excellent credit balance, but I should resume paying £300 per month to our lender (who seem happy to let the debt roll up).

Can anybody help with Civil Service pensions? We were both Civil Servant, both collecting our own Civil Service pensions.

From somewhere, I don't know where, I have it in my mind, that 50% of the pension of the husband (if he is first to die) will continue to be paid to his surviving wife.

But I have a suspicion that that changed when the Civil Service became politically correct .... Barbara joined the Civil Service when she left school, as they were the only organisation who then paid equal salaries.

Your thoughts and comments will be welcomed.

602

PS. Gibbo ... I am anxious to meet your son, in the hope that he can help me with my PC challenges. If I need to buy a new PC, So be it!