How to look for awards that haven’t been claimed
What is the procedure for checking Premium Bonds?
Bond holders should keep in mind that the winnings do not expire, so you can check your history to see if you’ve won before.
If you haven’t checked in a while, double-check that your account has been updated with your current address and proper information.
Another option for checking your bonds is to download the prize checker app and log in with your holder’s number. If you forget your phone number, call the NS&I at 08085 007 007 (UK) or +44 1253 832007 (outside the UK) and ask for assistance.
If you prefer to ask by mail, you can write to NS&I and ask them to provide you the prize history for your bonds.
Send the letter to NS&I, Glasgow, G58 1SB, with your name, address, NS&I number, or Premium Bonds holder’s number.
How long do Premium Bonds go unclaimed?
Claims have no time limit, so you can go back as far as you like. Here’s how to get your hands on any prizes that haven’t been claimed yet: To begin your claim, call 08085 007 007 if you are a registered user of NS&I’s online and phone services.
What’s the best way to track down old Premium Bonds?
A tracing form can be downloaded from the NS&I website. It will ask for your name and address, as well as any other names or addresses you have previously used. You’ll also need to give an estimate of when the bonds were issued and how much they were worth at the time.
How can I get into my NS&I account?
To log in, use your details if you have an NS&I account in your own name. If you don’t have an NS&I account, simply input the holder’s/account number of the donor’s account, as well as your own name and address. The donor’s accounts and investments will subsequently be added to your online dashboard.
When a premium bond holder passes away, what happens?
Any rewards won will be paid by warrant (like a cheque) to the person entitled to the money when we’ve processed the claim once we’ve received notification of the customer’s death. Any prizes the customer wins before then will be held and sent once the claim is finalized. Then, after each prize draw, we’ll send any future prizes earned by warrant to the person who is entitled to the money.
We are unable to award these prizes online or to consolidate and pay them at the end of the year.
What happens to Premium Bonds when the owner dies?
Premium Bonds cannot be inherited or transferred to another person’s name in the same way as funds from bank accounts and savings accounts can.
Instead, if you’re administering someone’s estate and need to deal with their Premium Bonds, you have two options. The first option is to sell them while they are still in the probate procedure. If you do this, the proceeds from the sale will become part of the estate and will be passed down to the beneficiaries after the estate administration is finished. This is the quickest way for Premium Bond beneficiaries to inherit money.
The alternative is to leave them alone for the time being. NS&I can keep Premium Bonds for up to 12 months following a person’s death. They are still eligible for monetary rewards throughout this time. The executor of the estate or a specified beneficiary can contact NS&I after 12 months to claim the rewards and cash out the Bonds. This will postpone the inheritance of wealth, but it may result in greater money in the end. As the executor, you should consult with the beneficiaries who will receive the estate’s funds to determine which option is best for their individual circumstances.