Widows left in pension limbo after husbands' deaths

Widows left in pension limbo after husbands' deaths3 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleMartin GrahamBBC ScotlandMcGinness familyFiona McGinness says she has been caught in a bureaucratic nightmare since Paul's death Paul McGinness died from cancer at just 43 but with a civil servant's pension, he at least knew his family would have some security.However, since his death in January, his wife Fiona has been caught up in a bureaucratic nightmare.Like thousands of other civil servants, Paul's pension has been delayed as a result of outsourcing firm Capita taking over administration of the entire pension scheme.Thousands of people have been unable to access their lump-sum payments or ongoing pension income due to problems with Capita's systems.Fiona told BBC Scotland News: "I sent the paperwork, then they only sent me half the right forms. I had to send the death certificate, our marriage certificate, and even the kids' birth certificates."Capita told me it would usually take 12 weeks to sort out but it'll be longer due to their current problems. Even 12 weeks is far too long."Retired civil servants left in pension limbo Terminally ill bride's final months marred by pension stress'Civil service pension limbo delayed my retirement'Fiona lives in Cambuslang with the couple's children, 15-year-old son Rory and daughter Alba, 11.Paul died from a fast and aggressive sarcoma cancer.He had worked for Social Security Scotland for four years, since the agency began operation.He wanted to dedicate his working life to public service but also wanted the security of a good pension for his family.Fiona said Paul also had small pensions from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the NHS from his time working for them but she applied to Capita first as he died while he was still working for them.She said the other pension funds had already paid out.More stories from Edinburgh, Fife & EastMore stories from Sc...