mum died now I have letter from recovery of estates

troubleinparadise

Dear Lilmissbetty,

As Motherofstudents says in her latest post, it took a year (July 2011 to July 2012) to resolve the issue of DWP overpayments.

So if it is just the DWP situation perhaps you need to anticipate it taking that long - or perhaps not, as obviously everyone's particular situation is different.

As to the rest of your grandfather's estate, it depends how complex it is.

Notmyrealname

motherofstudents wrote: »

thank you for the replies. It was just a shock to get that letter. Does anyone know how far back this will go or how it will be worked out as I am sure it dates back to around the time my dad died so about 8 years. Will it be all the council tax and all the tax credits for that period.

It will be for the full period she wasn't entitled which may be the 8 years. Currently it is the DWP. You may or may not get a notice from the council as council tax benefit is administered by them.

di3004

So sorry for the loss of your beloved mum. XxX

Arg

Notmyrealname wrote: »

It will be for the full period she wasn't entitled which may be the 8 years. Currently it is the DWP. You may or may not get a notice from the council as council tax benefit is administered by them.

So what laws say they can claim back that far? Remember it's about helping people not helping the DWP get what they may or may not be due.

motherofstudents

Sorry not to have got back to this and thank you so much for replies. It seemed to take forever while I was trying to get the information and everything I sent them they wanted more detail.

It was hard to get some of the information from banks etc. The CAB helped and told the DWP off on one occasion and accused them of harrassing me.

I have no issue with repaying the money that was overpaid but it was incredibly difficult and time consuming, at a time when I was finding it hard to cope.

I hope some of the information helps anyone facing a similar situation.

zaksmum

This happened with my mother in law when she passed away.

For some reason known only to her she'd declared herself penniless and claimed means tested benefits. The DWP found out when it went to probate and claimed back the overpayment.

That was fine by us as she hadn't been entitled to the money so it was never really hers anyway.

rogerblack

Understanding the exact entitlements to benefit can be complex.
You should in general at least check that the figures the DWP come up with as overpayments are plausible - the right dates are used, for example.

SandraScarlett

I think it is so wrong that people get criticised when it's found that an elderly parent claimed the incorrect amount, or the wrong benefits. I love completing forms (yes, I know, but we all have different joys in life ) but some of them are so complicated, and require repetitous answers, that elderly people get confused - and some far younger people don't find them that easy.

Someone like my DH, with Alzheimers, wouldn't have a hope in hell of even completing the name and address section accurately, and as others have said, many older women were never privy to their husband's financial matters.

I can remember my Uncle saying to my Aunt, who'd asked some money-related question, "now Mother, don't you be bothering yourself about such things, you just get the kettle on love"!!!

I do hope that anyone bereaved, who is due to inherit a reasonable amount, thinks seriously about contacting a solicitor, rather than doing it themselves. It may seem like a lot of money to pay out, but it saves so much heartache.

xx

Glen_Clark

Very sorry you have lost your mum.
But frankly, having seen how probing these DSS forms are, I find it incomprehensible how anybody could get means tested benefits and not know they have £25,000 worth of liquid assets. Even if the share certificates were stuffed away in a drawer she must have been receiving a regular dividend from them

Elvisia

I have some shares from when I was small - they are worth hardly anything as I get about £2.50 dividend a year - and I had no idea I had them as the money was going into a different bank account I didn't know had been set up. It wasn't until my mum mentioned it, and I went into the bank to ask, that I discovered I had the shares. For whatever reason the bank had either stopped sending statements or never had. So it is possible.

OP, so sorry for your loss, this whole DWP really is the last thing you need. Thank you so much for posting up the reply though, wish everyone would do that with their threads as it would be so useful.