Prepaying funeral on wifes Credit Card

Yorkshireman99

Margot123 wrote: »

If the OP or his wife is on certain benefits, then the DWP may (stress the word 'may') help pay for a basic funeral. However, I have heard of people only receiving £750 when a basic funeral can cost upwards of £3,000.
Awful situation to be in, and I think I'd be inclined to use the credit card, and then hope the DWP might top up any deficit. Benefits rules change all the time and there is no guarantee a funeral payment will be available in the future.

I am sorry to say that really is bad advice. Sorry but you don't undertand how a public health funeral works. The OP would end up having all the hastle of dealing with the credit card company and would still need to find the funds to top up any grant. By just leaving matters he is assured that a proper funeral will be paid for in full by the local authority or hospital, This will be a simple, but respectful, and signified affair with no frills. Note that a public health funeral will be availble regardless of benefit chnages.The DWP will NOT top up any deficit. Sadly a lot of people end up getting into debt to fund a funeral because they don't understand they have no legal obligation or still fear what was called a pauper's funeral. There is no need for this.

Silvertabby

What a sad situation - my heart goes out to OP and his family.

As they are both obviously under State pension age - and have young children - OP may be able to claim bereavement support from the DWP. It looks like this money isn't means tested for the first 12 months, but may be after that. However, if entitled, then the £3.5K first payment will go some way in paying for the funeral.

2. What you'll get

You’ll get a larger first payment followed by up to 18 monthly payments. The amount depends on your circumstances.

Circumstances:

You have children under 20 in full-time education. First payment Monthly payment £3,500, then £350 per month for 18 months.

You don’t have children under 20 in full-time education. First payment Monthly payment £2,500, then £100 per month for 18 months

Yorkshireman99

That is intended to help,with the ongoing costs NOT the funeral. It is in addition to what the local authority will pay for a funeral Relatives have no legal responsibility to pay for the funeral. Sadly this is not widely known and often feel obliged to go into debt when there is no need for them to do so.

-taff

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

The OP would end up having all the hastle of dealing with the credit card company

He wouldn't. The wifes estate wuld be liable for any debt, so he only has to show there is nothing.

Yorkshireman99

He would probably have to deal with the credit card company and debt collectors. In any case there is absolutely no reason for the OP or his wife to do so. Why do you think it is a good idea to effectively defraud the credit card company? You have also forgotten that the credit card company are likely to start chasing long before the poor woman dies just when the OP and his poor wife will have far more important things to do.

Silvertabby

That is intended to help,with the ongoing costs NOT the funeral. It is in addition to what the local authority will pay for a funeral Relatives have no legal responsibility to pay for the funeral. Sadly this is not widely known and often feel obliged to go into debt when there is no need for them to do so. Posted by yorkshireman99

Yes, I know. However, rightly or wrongly most people still feel obliged to pay for their loved one's funerals rather than leave it to the State. A friend, who used to work for a funeral director, tells me that the 'Council Contract' funerals were carried out with the same care and dignity as a 'paid for' funeral - but the stigma persists.

Silvertabby

Just a thought, OP, but it may be worth checking with your wife's previous employers (if any) to ask if there will be any pension benefits due.

If she worked for the public sector - including Local Government/schools - she may not have noticed that automatic pension contributions were being taken.

Yorkshireman99

On the contrary I have assumed nothing. TI have simply said what the options are and the reality of a public health funeral. The risk with a terminal illness is that nobody can be sure of the life expectancy. Why pay money into a plan that may not actually pay out.

Kaybenson

Please be strong.

Medical practitioners can give a limit but the Creator of the world can and will surprise them.

It is well with you and your family.

House_Martin

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

I am sorry to say that really is bad advice. Sorry but you don't undertand how a public health funeral works. The OP would end up having all the hastle of dealing with the credit card company and would still need to find the funds to top up any grant. By just leaving matters he is assured that a proper funeral will be paid for in full by the local authority or hospital, This will be a simple, but respectful, and signified affair with no frills. Note that a public health funeral will be availble regardless of benefit chnages.The DWP will NOT top up any deficit. Sadly a lot of people end up getting into debt to fund a funeral because they don't understand they have no legal obligation or still fear what was called a pauper's funeral. There is no need for this.

Yorkshireman is correct. The local council will pay .The relatives, sons and daughters have no legal obligation to pay.
When my Mum died , with 16k debts, none of my other three siblings would contribute when we learnt that the DHSS would not give a grant.
I had to visit the local offices for an interview with the person who was in charge of the council grants.She had to approach my brother and sisters to verify my claim but eventually it was granted and we had a proper funeral( was nt a cardboard coffin but a normal one ) and it all went off OK.
Speed is the thing though, the quicker you get the red tape out of the way the better, so visit the correct council official asap to get things rolling.
We were asked to pay £2800 ( £700 each ) originally. I was the only one who agreed even though the other three were all employed .
The fact that the local council will pay funeral costs is kept pretty quiet and most people do not dig out this info, but the councils have no options if the family refuse point blank as mine did.