We are acting in relation to the administration of a deceased’s estate.
He had two foreign pensions - a Spanish pension with HSBC and a Belgium pension with Federal Pensions Service.
Deceased has a surviving spouse (UK resident) and both pension companies have written to her stating that in order for her to claim any survival benefit as the surviving spouse
… ‘the request must be addressed to the competent body of the place of residence, as provided in the Community Regulations on Social Security’. This is the wording provided by HSBC for the Spanish pension
‘you need to apply for your Belgian survivor’s pension with the competent pension institution of your country of residence’. This is the wording provided by the Federal Pensions Service for the Belgium Pension.
We have been unable to identify who the ‘competent body’ is? We have made enquiries of the Pensions Regulator - they directed us to Money Helper and Unbiased who both provide pension advice and have been directed to HMRC who have stated that it is not them.
I have written back to both pension companies - I am unable to speak on the phone as they do not have English speaking staff.
Has anyone else come across a request like the above and could give some guidance?
Many thanks
Gill Collins
Warwick Barker LLP