DWP and funeral grant, more information needed?

cappuchinokid

Has anyone had problems with DWP? My Dad died recently and the DWP helpline confirmed my mum could apply for the funeral grant as she was receiving pension credit when he died. They advised to apply over the phone which she did and she asked if they would need any more information. They said no and so she was expecting the money to be paid. Now she has had a letter saying because she didn't reply to a letter asking for more information she is not going to be paid. The tone of the letter is awful and not what a recently bereaved elderly person should be receiving. Trouble is she hasn't had a letter asking for more information, just one confirming she has applied.

She is going to phone and ask what it is all about - they know he is dead through the 'tell us once' service, they know the cost of the funeral, etc as they were told everything on the phone when she applied. What on earth do they need now? The application was made as soon as she knew she could apply and within the time limit (and they don't exactly go out of their way to advertise it).

I am appalled at how DWP treat people especially someone who has just lost their husband of over 55 years!

bongonaut

The current system is unfit for purpose in so many ways. If a family are relying on a payment from DWP then they cannot instruct a funeral director until the claim is decided, and this can take 2-3 weeks. If they do instruct a FD and then the claim is rejected, they become responsible for the funeral costs.

The amount payable toward the FD's charges has never increased since the current system was introduced in the 90's.

The criteria for deciding if a claim is valid is based on whether the person arranging the funeral (not the deceased) is in receipt of qualifying benefits. If there is another close family member in work, the claim will usually be rejected.

I understand that some of the funeral trade associations and organisations such as Quaker Social Action are lobbying government to improve this broken system, but I don't think it won't be a straightforward process.

Mojisola

bongonaut wrote: »

If a family are relying on a payment from DWP then they cannot instruct a funeral director until the claim is decided, and this can take 2-3 weeks.

That isn't what it says here -
https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/how-to-claim
"You can claim a Funeral Payment using form SF200 or over the phone. You must claim within 3 months of the funeral."

bongonaut

Yes, that's correct as well (the Gov.uk website does actually explain things very well).

My point was that some families RELY on the claim being approved to pay for the funeral. If they go ahead and instruct a FD and then the claim is denied, then they are left with a debt to the FD. A faster decision-making process would help both family and FD know where they stand before commitment is made.

Yorkshireman99

bongonaut wrote: »

Yes, that's correct as well (the Gov.uk website does actually explain things very well).

My point was that some families RELY on the claim being approved to pay for the funeral. If they go ahead and instruct a FD and then the claim is denied, then they are left with a debt to the FD. A faster decision-making process would help both family and FD know where they stand before commitment is made.

The alternative is to ask the local authority to pay as they are obliged to do.

bongonaut

Local and Hospital Authorities are obliged to step in when there is no-one else who will take responsibility for paying. Do bear in mind though that they will usually only do so as a very last resort and they will then have the right to reclaim funds from the estate of the deceased (if there are any funds of course).

cappuchinokid

Update - my Mum phoned the DWP who had no record of the alleged letter she never received and asked for information already given in the original claim (which was done over the phone on the advice of the bereavement department of the DWP). They still can't tell her if they will give her any money even though she was in receipt of pension credit - a qualifying benefit, at the time of my Dad's death.

Even if she gets it the money left in my Dad's account was nowhere near enough to pay for the funeral as all his money went towards paying the council for nursing home fees. There was a few hundred pounds and that was only because he died just after pension day! He had no assets or savings at all. She is very stressed about paying for the funeral and no-one told her about any help that might be available for her.

I agree that the system seems to be designed to force relatives into paying funeral costs, it was a very simple funeral but still cost over £3000, the grant is unrealistic as it would only be several hundred pounds. The last thing on her mind when my Dad died was money, she was more concerned with making sure he had a dignified send off. So we are no further forwards and she has been upset by the attitude of the DWP again. I expect most people would give up at this stage but she has been made so angry by the way she is being treated she is in fighting mood now and off to see her MP!

Yorkshireman99

cappuchinokid wrote: »

Update - my Mum phoned the DWP who had no record of the alleged letter she never received and asked for information already given in the original claim (which was done over the phone on the advice of the bereavement department of the DWP). They still can't tell her if they will give her any money even though she was in receipt of pension credit - a qualifying benefit, at the time of my Dad's death.

Even if she gets it the money left in my Dad's account was nowhere near enough to pay for the funeral as all his money went towards paying the council for nursing home fees. There was a few hundred pounds and that was only because he died just after pension day! He had no assets or savings at all. She is very stressed about paying for the funeral and no-one told her about any help that might be available for her.

I agree that the system seems to be designed to force relatives into paying funeral costs, it was a very simple funeral but still cost over £3000, the grant is unrealistic as it would only be several hundred pounds. The last thing on her mind when my Dad died was money, she was more concerned with making sure he had a dignified send off. So we are no further forwards and she has been upset by the attitude of the DWP again. I expect most people would give up at this stage but she has been made so angry by the way she is being treated she is in fighting mood now and off to see her MP!

Whilst it will not help in your mum's situation there is no need for this situation to happen. The local authority or hospital if the death occurred there are legally obliged to pay for a basic funeral if the deceased had insufficient funds. The family has no legal obligation to pay. The funeral in such a situation will be dignified but with no frills and will usually be a cremation. This costs around £1,500. This message needs to be made more widely known.

paddedjohn

Why do people who have no cash see the need to pay out upwards of £3000 for a funeral when they could get input done for sub £1000. The body can be collected direct from the hospital and a home made coffin could be used to transport the body in the back of an estate car or hire van to the local crematorium which can be as cheap as £300. All the frill and whistles are only there to make the funeral directors rich.

Yorkshireman99

Because they don't think that is a decent send off.

cappuchinokid

paddedjohn wrote: »

Why do people who have no cash see the need to pay out upwards of £3000 for a funeral when they could get input done for sub £1000. The body can be collected direct from the hospital and a home made coffin could be used to transport the body in the back of an estate car or hire van to the local crematorium which can be as cheap as £300. All the frill and whistles are only there to make the funeral directors rich.

I am glad my mum is not on the internet to read this - maybe we should have just built a bonfire in the garden and tipped him on that! £3000 is what you are looking at for a basic funeral these days, you have no idea what you are talking about. Have you any idea what the crematorium fees, certificates, etc, cost? This thread is about the difficulties getting the DWP to pay out money they agree the next of kin is entitled to claim towards the cost of the funeral. If you can't help with that then stay off this thread.