Pension credit - what happens on death?

BIGEYE

My mother was admitted to hospital around 7th November, during her time in hospital her condition got worse, until eventually she died in hospital on 29 November.
I have been to her house since her death and found three Pension Credit cheques having been delivered during her time in hospital.
These pension credits were lying in her house but nobody was available to cash them at the post office as normally happens.
What do I do with these cheques as she should have had the payments? I filled out a green form at the job centre to stop my mothers pension credit payment and ticked the box that asks if I want to claim any outstanding payments to her.

Thanks for any advice.

amersall

Sorry to hear this, please accept my condolences. When my mum died in 2008, she was in hospital for 2 weeks, and her pc was paid into the post office. When the estate was wound up, pc took a payment back (not sure what period it covered but it was over £100). If i were you i would phone pc and ask what you should do with these cheques. I dont know the law on this but as she as died, i dont think anyone would be able to cash these anyway. I may be wrong, and someone may post who knows what to do about this.

Oldernotwiser

Is there a bank account open for your mother or has someone opened an executor's account to use to settle her affairs?

BIGEYE

She has a bank account.

bryanb

I paid into my mother's account after her death (Final pension adjustment and Pension credit) No problems as the account was included in probate.

oldestrocker

bryanb wrote: »

I paid into my mother's account after her death (Final pension adjustment and Pension credit) No problems as the account was included in probate.

Strictly, any bank account in the name of the deceased should be 'frozen' upon death. No transactions should be made either payments in or out.

The Executor or Administrator as the case may be will open a new account into which the deceased assets should be paid into including the credit balances on the deceased bank accounts.

Any cheques made payable to the deceased should be paid into this new account.

I would contact the Pension Service and get a revised payment up to date of death.