FAQs

If a spouse or dependent pension was put into payment following the death of the pensioner, the backdated arrears that were due to the member up to their date of death will be paid with the spouse or dependent pensioner pension payment of December 2019.

Where there is no pension in payment, the payment is due to the estate of the pensioner. We will be writing to the deceased’s legal personal representatives to make arrangements for any payment due to the estate, in respect of pensioners who have died between 1 April 2019 and November 2019, during January 2020.

In APS, pension payments are made up to the end of the month in which a pensioner dies. In the case of a pensioner who died during March 2019, the pension would be treated as if it were still in payment on 31 March 2019 and would therefore qualify for the 2019 Discretionary Increase payments.

We regret that the settlement agreed between the APS Trustee and British Airways does not provide for Discretionary Increase payments to be made in respect of an APS pension that was not in payment on 31 March 2019. No Discretionary Increase payments can therefore be paid in respect of a pensioner who died on or before 28 February 2019.

Any pension payments made from the discretionary Increase will be subject to income tax at your highest marginal rate of tax.

If you have any concerns regarding the amount of income tax you have paid please contact HMRC on 0300 200 3300 or write to:

HM Inspector of Taxes
Grayfield House
5 Bankhead Avenue
Sighthill
Edinburgh
EH11 4AE

Quote reference 846/BA52

Payment of any Discretionary Increase and/or backdated payments may affect your entitlement to Pensions Credit.

If you have any concerns, you should contact the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 731 0469. This helpline is open Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 7.30 pm. Further information is available on www.gov.uk/pension-credit or from your local benefits office.