Father-In-Law's HA problem

Yorkie1

djh77 wrote: »

When we found out about a month ago he was seriously ill, we got written permission from him to deal with his HA and doctors.

Off-topic, but was this a formal Power of Attorney or a more informal permission?

If he still has mental capacity, you might want to consider getting him to look into doing a PoA so that if he becomes more unwell you can deal with all his other matters.

I'm not an expert on such things, but perhaps worth looking into.

djh77

Mojisola wrote: »

You don't have to do anything.

The council will sort out the residential care.

Someone at the HA is hoping you will pay the debts by making these vague threats but you don't have to.

Thanks. What I mean though is at Addenbrooks hospital today he has been given something called Gold card scheme (or something like that, it was all a little much to take in tbh) which enables the doctors to get funding or something to secure housing/help for him, so as far as I know they will be sorting out new accommodation for him very soon.

What I/we need to do though is effectively hand the keys to his current property back to the HA and end his tenancy. But, they have said they won't end his tenancy until he is debt free with them - which is just never going to happen.

The HA have got our telephone numbers and our address, as we have been dealing with them now on FIL's behalf for the last month or so.

djh77

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Off-topic, but was this a formal Power of Attorney or a more informal permission?

If he still has mental capacity, you might want to consider getting him to look into doing a PoA so that if he becomes more unwell you can deal with all his other matters.

I'm not an expert on such things, but perhaps worth looking into.

No we don't have power of attorney. The hospital asked that today. We just have a written and signed letter from him that has been given into the HA and the doctors.

But, yes a formal POA is something I think we are going to have to look into, not sure where we even have to start with that.

djh77

Better_Days wrote: »

Very sorry to hear about your FIL. It must be horrible trying to cope with it all. Has your FIL made a will

Hi, no he has no will, but to be honest he has nothing to leave anyone.

ValHaller

djh77 wrote: »

They said they would clear the property when he left, but they would then bill him, or us, if he passed away. I am not sure they can bill us tbh?

Well, yes they can bill you and the more you become involved in Father In Law's affairs, the more likely it is that they will bill you.

But a bill is not legal authority to collect money or to enforce collection via the courts. As it stands, you are not responsible for any debt incurred by FiL, so the HA might as well bill the man in the moon

djh77

ValHaller wrote: »

Well, yes they can bill you and the more you become involved in Father In Law's affairs, the more likely it is that they will bill you.

But a bill is not legal authority to collect money or to enforce collection via the courts. As it stands, you are not responsible for any debt incurred by FiL, so the HA might as well bill the man in the moon

Ah, so it's kind of an 'invitation to pay' then?

None of his debts are to 'credit' companies in the traditional sense (he has no cc's/loans etc), the 3 debts are to the council for council tax and knocking over a lamppost in his van!, Anglia water and the HA.

ValHaller

djh77 wrote: »

Ah, so it's kind of an 'invitation to pay' then?

Sometimes an invitation with menaces, but never the less just an invitation.

djh77 wrote: »

None of his debts are to 'credit' companies in the traditional sense (he has no cc's/loans etc), the 3 debts are to the council for council tax and knocking over a lamppost in his van!, Anglia water and the HA.

I would think that his insurance co should pay for the lamp. If they don't already know, there is no harm in telling them now - not meant unkindly, but is protecting the No Claims Bonus an important issue right now?

Better_Days

Just to add if you need to go back to Addenbrookes for any further information I have always found PALS to be very helpful when it comes to signposting and getting responses to queries.
http://www.cuh.org.uk/cms/corporate-information/services/non-clinical-services/patient-advice-and-liaison-service-pals
I have contacted PALS at a few different hospitals including Addenbrookes, and always found them very approachable and helpful. As you say there is so much to take in, and it can be of assistance to have a single contact point for clarifications and queries.

de_g.

djh77 wrote: »

What I/we need to do though is effectively hand the keys to his current property back to the HA and end his tenancy. But, they have said they won't end his tenancy until he is debt free with them - which is just never going to happen.

Contact his local councillors - check writetothem.com or the Council website for contact details - and impress upon them the need to get this resolved quickly.

And if the HA don't start to play ball, consider threatening them with the local press. "Housing association stopping terminally-ill man from moving into care" probably wouldn't make them too happy.

Hope you manage to get everything sorted out soon.

djh77

ValHaller wrote: »

I would think that his insurance co should pay for the lamp. If they don't already know, there is no harm in telling them now - not meant unkindly, but is protecting the No Claims Bonus an important issue right now?

This is kind of an issue, or at least maybe.

He was working as a self-employed courier. However, the insurance was provided by the company he worked for at a very reduced rate. He had to have his own 'personal' insurance, and the company provided insurance for business use at 40p per day, which covered him for any accident during the time he was working for them.

He has told us he had at least 3 accidents in the last few weeks of work. These have obviously been caused because the tumors were affecting him. Now, he has told us that he informed the insurance company about 2 of them. The third one he told us he just drove off due to being scared of the consequences (the guy got his reg number and telephone details anyway). However, we are not sure if he has really told the insurance company or not tbh.

We did call the council and tell them to deal directly with the insurance company (and gave the council the ins companies details etc), but we keep getting letters from the council.

He has no insurance anymore as he can't legally drive anymore anyway, and his van was scrapped by us Monday.