Can funeral costs be paid before any other debt?

churchrat

Dizz--you do not have to pay ANYTHING. You cannot be forced to take on this debt, although it is very difficult to find any thing on line about it. In my experience the CAB also did not know very much either. It might all depend on how determined you are-I was very sure that I was not going to pay, and I was making sure that my elderly aunt on benefits would not end up in debt over it either.

If he died at home and you refuse to pay the local authority will do it. If he died in hospital and you refuse to pay then the hospital will do it. I found that the only people who would give me information about this were the local undertakers. I contacted the biggest local chain in the hope that they may be the ones with the contract from the hospital, and they were.

Just keep saying "I do not have any money, and I will not get into debt for this". They cannot make you.

Gavin83

Pollycat wrote: »

Is this true?

I only ask as I've got some literature about paying for care home fees and it doesn't say that even if your savings are less than £14250 you will still have to pay (other than taking your benefits as I mentioned in my post #9).

Well I was referring to the amount paid from the benefits but its still a contribution and any outstanding debt is still payable after death unless of course nothing is left in the estate.

The LA shouldn't chase you personally for the fees although they may well ask for details of our fathers estate to determine what is left. They'll only start to chase you if they feel you've benefitted before their fees are settled.

Mojisola

Dizz wrote: »

Pollycat - the reason for the bill is that my Dad had a private pension and that was taken into account when assessing his contribution for care. He had no other savings or belongings. They Local Authority retrospectively as they had taken some time to get around to doing the assessement, hence the big bill of £3k. Hope that makes sense.

Half of his private pension should have been disregarded so that your mother could use it. Have they done this?

Pollycat

I wonder why the care home fees weren't being paid right from the beginning in April from the OP's Dad's state pension & occupational pension (and any other benefits)?

If that had been the case, the OP wouldn't have a bill for £3k dating back to residency from April.

I'm not exactly sure it works because my Dad only went into a care home in July this year, I was made appointee for him (with DWP) early August and was told by our county council what they were taking out of Dad's income towards his fees (at the financial assessment) and that I had to have his state benefits paid into an account in my name and I was responsible for paying the care home fees - part from his benefits and part from his savings.

It never really got going though as sadly he died early September.

My Dad was self-funding, I'm not sure how it works if the LA pay the fees and expect a contribution from income.

McKneff

You have my apologies without reservation,

But i would like to reply to your 'its none of your business' .

You make it everyone elses business as soon as you post on a public forum.

Dizz

Mojisola - my Mum died in April so half of my Dad's pension wouldn't go to her.

McKneff - apology accepted but I was so upset by what you had written I wanted to make clear to you just exactly what we had been through. Didn't necessarily want to post it up here, I was very hurt, that's all.

In fact, I've just spoken to the CAB and they tell me that funeral debts come first, and other debts come from the remainder of the estate - and if there is not enough money remaining to pay the debts, then the debts die with the deceased person.

Pollycat - my Dad was paying befor April - but after April he was offered a permanent placement in the care home (beforehand it had been temporary and at a lower rate) - and therefore the rate went up from April. It took the Local Authority until August to actually assess my Dad's finances, I was not impressed with them in many areas. That's why the bill is so big. My Dad was of sound mind so he was fully able to talk to the assessment officer himself so there was no need to appoint anyone else to deal with his affairs. So sorry to hear of your loss.

Pollycat

Dizz
it sounds like the council have let you (and your Dad) down.

Ours were pretty much 'on-the-ball', we decided (with local council's Adult Care agreement) that Dad really would be safer in a care home on 4th July, he moved into the care home (straight from hospital after a fall at home) on 13th July and they did our financial assessment on 20th July so we knew where we stood financially pretty quickly in the process.

I hope you get this sorted, it's bad enough having to deal with losing someone without the added worry over money.

neverdespairgirl

Pollycat wrote: »

It never really got going though as sadly he died early September.

My Dad was self-funding, I'm not sure how it works if the LA pay the fees and expect a contribution from income.

A friend of mine's father went into a care home in April, adn the LA is still only just sorting out the finances now.