Death of a member - verification of identity 1

United Kingdom

Reference: H00450

The managers of the NHS pension scheme had discovered that someone with the same initial and surname as a member was dead. They therefore approached the member's bank, claiming pension overpayments and, as a result, the bank closed the account. The member was not in fact dead and the Ombudsman awarded her GBP 1000 compensation for distress. The manager should have taken further steps to verify the member's identity.