Mother-In-Law refuses to get life insurance

barbarawright

You can't donate a body to medical science. The owner of the body has to sort it out while still alive. And as has been said, not all bodies are needed

http://www.hta.gov.uk/bodyorganandtissuedonation/howtodonateyourbody.cfm

Lara44

As far as I know you can't be compelled to pay for a family member's funeral, so I would double check your impressions directly with the council.

As other posters have said the key is not to make clear everyone knows your financial difficulties up front and crucially not to engage the services of a funeral director.

repeatoffender

OP we are in the same position my MIL refuses to pay for insurance even the over 50 no medical basic cover. She can well afford it as she has a high income of DLA & Pension Credits. Her children have told her they will not bury her and will not take responsibility for her funeral.

I was shocked at this but they are adamant that they will not save to pay for her when she has ample disposable income, she has no savings and lives in rented accommodation so no estate to claim from.

I know you have been criticised but it is a lot of money, however if your wife does not sign for and arrange the funeral she will not be liable for the cost.

modhra_dubh

I agree with an earlier post that it is irresponsible for someone to make no provision for their own funeral. Funding from the social fund to pay towards the cost of a funeral is not based on whether the deceased was on benefits, it depends on whether the person deemed responsible for paying for the funeral is in receipt of certain qualifying benefits. If there’s a close relative, like a child of the deceased, who isn’t getting one of the qualifying benefits then they may be expected to pay for the funeral rather than the dwp allow one of her other children on benefits to apply for the funeral grant. I don't think it is heartless for the OP to be asking how they are expected to find approx. £2000-£3000. Whether your mother-in-law has enough spare money to save some towards a funeral depends on how much she is living on now. I think a discussion between the siblings if mom is that ill may be needed so there are no arguments when the inevitable happens.

MrsE_2

barbarawright wrote: »

You can't donate a body to medical science. The owner of the body has to sort it out while still alive. And as has been said, not all bodies are needed

http://www.hta.gov.uk/bodyorganandtissuedonation/howtodonateyourbody.cfm

I'm all for organ donation, but for some reason I'm not some comfortable with that.
Maybe because it would be harder on the grievers?

MrsE_2

modhra_dubh wrote: »

I agree with an earlier post that it is irresponsible for someone to make no provision for their own funeral. Funding from the social fund to pay towards the cost of a funeral is not based on whether the deceased was on benefits, it depends on whether the person deemed responsible for paying for the funeral is in receipt of certain qualifying benefits. If there’s a close relative, like a child of the deceased, who isn’t getting one of the qualifying benefits then they may be expected to pay for the funeral rather than the dwp allow one of her other children on benefits to apply for the funeral grant. I don't think it is heartless for the OP to be asking how they are expected to find approx. £2000-£3000. Whether your mother-in-law has enough spare money to save some towards a funeral depends on how much she is living on now. I think a discussion between the siblings if mom is that ill may be needed so there are no arguments when the inevitable happens.

Maybe it would be fairer if the social looked at it as 3 people responsible & as 2 are on benefits paid two thirds?

joeblack066

OP, I can completely sympathise. When my Mother died, I wasn't close to her but she was still my Mum. I had 4 children and a very limited income, and could not afford a funeral. I informed the Coroner, who then took over. There was a funeral, that I and anyone else could attend, but obviously you have no say in it. The Coroner will then arrange to sell the deceased property as it is to pay towards the cost. I was heartbroken to have to do this, but had no choice. Check with the local Coroner's office. So sorry that you are in this position. Please give him a break guys.

swampduck

Assuming your MIL is still in receipt of a pension or income of some description why don't you become an additional name or signatory on her bank account or more correctly create a joint account. Then you would have access to what little money she does have to put towards a funeral.
A few years ago my BIL passed on and was fretting as he was on benefits and very little money in his bank - by the time he died he had accumulated a fair chunk of money. His three siblings put the rest of the money towards a basic funeral. Annoyingly - quite some time later we found out that he did have an insurance policy which would have helped pay towards his funeral but because one of his siblings was named as the beneficiary he kept the lot and kept quiet about it!!

Swampy

BigYin

swampduck wrote: »

Assuming your MIL is still in receipt of a pension or income of some description why don't you become an additional name or signatory on her bank account or more correctly create a joint account. Then you would have access to what little money she does have to put towards a funeral.
A few years ago my BIL passed on and was fretting as he was on benefits and very little money in his bank - by the time he died he had accumulated a fair chunk of money. His three siblings put the rest of the money towards a basic funeral. Annoyingly - quite some time later we found out that he did have an insurance policy which would have helped pay towards his funeral but because one of his siblings was named as the beneficiary he kept the lot and kept quiet about it!!

Swampy

My MIL would never agree to that, yes the simplest solution would be for her to save up but she would refuse that suggestion too even though she gets ample in the way of benefits to allow for some saving to be done.

claire16c

BigYin wrote: »

She brought it up years ago when she told us she had arranged cover then we found out recently that this was not the case and she had only paid 2 monthly premiums then deceided to forget about it.

Surely it would have come out on direct debit?

What are her reasons for not getting a new insurance set up? Is it purely because she doesnt want to pay for it?