John Mann – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information is held on the value of the residual estates of service men and women killed in action who were not married at the time of their death.

Anna Soubry

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) would not have visibility of the residual value of the estate of a Service person, as it is the responsibility of the executor or personal representative to collect information on any monies due (such as bank accounts, insurance payouts) or owed (such as bank loans).

The MOD would inform the executor of any money owing to the estate from the Department. This can comprise: arrears of pay; arrears of allowances (operational allowance, council tax refund); credit for untaken annual leave; cash found in effects and the death in service lump sum payment if this falls due to the estate (rather than being paid to a qualifying beneficiary under the pension scheme).

Payment is made to the executor once they obtain either a Grant of Representation or Confirmation or Letters of Administration or for small amounts only (Under £5,000) on completion of a Form of Declaration supplied by the MOD.