Any ideas?

vintagebrighton

Bit of background - My mum died in 2008 in a nursing home.

She didn't leave a will, lived in a property rented from a charity and didn't have any money.

Anyway, I registered her death and paid for her funeral, I assume the nursing home returned her pension book and the charity cleared her bungalow. They didn't inform me of this but thats another story.

Now it's 8 years later and I get a letter from DWP (I'm on ESA for cancer) enclosing a tracing form for Prudential asking if I'm the person they're looking for.

Apart from being very distressing, what on earth could have prompted them to search for relatives of my mother? I don't think she had any life policies, she wasn't that organised. She may have had an old work pension but she was a nurse in the NHS and then received a war widows pension so not sure she would have had anything else.

I just want to be prepared.... any ideas?

Yorkshireman99

vintagebrighton wrote: »

Bit of background - My mum died in 2008 in a nursing home.

She didn't leave a will, lived in a property rented from a charity and didn't have any money.

Anyway, I registered her death and paid for her funeral, I assume the nursing home returned her pension book and the charity cleared her bungalow. They didn't inform me of this but thats another story.

Now it's 8 years later and I get a letter from DWP (I'm on ESA for cancer) enclosing a tracing form for Prudential asking if I'm the person they're looking for.

Apart from being very distressing, what on earth could have prompted them to search for relatives of my mother? I don't think she had any life policies, she wasn't that organised. She may have had an old work pension but she was a nurse in the NHS and then received a war widows pension so not sure she would have had anything else.

I just want to be prepared.... any ideas?

There may be money due so you should reply to the letter. As it is more than six years since your mother died nobody can claim for any debts unless you acknowledge them.

Mrs_Boo_Boo

My husband had a letter once asking a few details. He wasn't the right person,but am guessing it may have been someone trying to trace the right person to pay out a policy. It may just be a shot in the dark with someone of the same name as your mother.
Sorry it was distressing for you.

vintagebrighton

Thanks for the replies.

It's a distinctive name so I'm sure it's her. I'll return the form and wait and see I guess.

It's a part of my life I thought I'd dealt with, funny how upset it made me.

vintagebrighton

Does anyone know..... if there is something from the insurance company would we have to go through probate?

I've no idea what the time limits are.

Savvy_Sue

There are no time limits on obtaining probate, actually you'd be applying for 'letters of administration' but the end result is the same. Whether you'd need to do so we can't know until you've heard from the insurance company.

brewerdave

When my mother passed last year , she had two policies with the Prudential -they paid them out to me almost immediately after I sent them the death cert. and didn't require probate even tho' the proceeds were in the thousands££.

vintagebrighton

Thanks for your help. I've sent the info back so will just have to wait and see.