Terminally Ill

Threebabes

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dandelionclock30

https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/overview.

You may be eligable for a funeral payment if the person arranging the funeral is on a low income. Apparently this is for a very basic funeral only, not for seeing someone off in style unfortunatley.

Mojisola

Threebabes wrote: »

My sister and I have recently got back in touch with our mother who is terminally ill. We were estranged for 8 year. She is still legally married to my father but split up over 20 year ago.

She has not worked for 20 year and has no savings to speak of. She has a partner who is caring for her who does not work also.

My sister and I are concerned when my mother eventually passes who will be liable for the funeral costs. Her partner has mentioned sending her off in style but we are worried (my sister and I) that we will be liable for the costs.

If the person who has died doesn't leave enough money to pay for the funeral, then it's the person who arranges the funeral who has to pay for it. There is no obligation on any relatives/partners/friends to pay for a funeral.

As they are still married, your father is your mother's next of kin and also will be the first person in line to inherit anything she leaves (unless she has made a will saying otherwise). It has been known for estranged spouses to turn up at the house after the death, planning to remove anything of value.

Mojisola

If it's the kind of thing they will discuss with you, help your mother and her partner to check whether they are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to.

Terminally ill people's claims are fast-tracked so that the benefits come through quickly.

Shelldean

it will be whoever signs the contract at the funeral directors that will be liable.


When Nan died the director told me umpteen times that if Nans insurances didn't cover the costs ( how we'd planned to pay) then by signing the contract I and I alone was would be chased.


I knew the state of Nans bank accounts and I knew roughly how much the Insurance was so knew I could clear the debt.
and the funeral director was only looking out for me and making sure in my grief I still understood what I was signing.


But I do repeat don't sign the contract unless you are willing to be liable

g6jns_2

Threebabes wrote: »

My sister and I have recently got back in touch with our mother who is terminally ill. We were estranged for 8 year. She is still legally married to my father but split up over 20 year ago.

She has not worked for 20 year and has no savings to speak of. She has a partner who is caring for her who does not work also.

My sister and I are concerned when my mother eventually passes who will be liable for the funeral costs. Her partner has mentioned sending her off in style but we are worried (my sister and I) that we will be liable for the costs. I would like to contribute but not in the position to spend thousands. My sister is a single parent and hasnt got two pennies to run together.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

You are not liable unless you choose to arrange the funeral and agree to fund it. Where there is little or no money such as this case the local authority is obliged to arrange and pay for the funeral. However this will be a very basic funeral. I suggest you ask the CAB for some guidance. There are some grants but they will not cover all the costs.

Threebabes

Thanks for all your advice. She died 19th july, 14 weeks yesterday.

Her partner organised her funeral, we assume the funeral costs were taken care of since he has not been in touch since.

It was a truely awful time.

luxor4t

Can't read and run, so sending good wishes to you.