Help Paying Funeral Director/Funeral expenses payment

seville_2003

Hello
I'm needing some advice about paying my Dads funeral director. The funeral has to be paid in 28 days, I currently have £1,100 I can pay but I'm short of the rest and I'm unsure how the funeral director will react to this. Does anyone have any experience of dealing with funeral directors when you're short, do they put a plan in place, does it go to debt collectors?

My dad had an insurance policy but because he was still married to my mother (despite being seperated for over 20 years) it had to be paid into her bank. She was supposed to give me the money but she revealed to me last night she has blew the lot.. nearly 2 grand to my shock(might I add that my Dad brought me up my whole life and I was aware of what she was like) but it was still a shock, I'm in a bit of a situation now and she won't be able to pay it back for months.

So my options: Firstly I had considered applying for funeral expenses payment but I have a few questions about it which make me unsure:

I'm unemployed currently and on universal credit so I believe I can apply..

I believe it will ask on the form about relatives spouse of my father - he has a sister he has not spoken to in over a decade - they wouldn't try and contact her would they? the last thing I would want is her to know I'm applying for this. And would they contact my mother.

Secondly with him having an insurance plan will they look into this - like I say my mother was due it because technically they were still married. Will they have expected this to go to the funeral?

Finally I had suggested my mother applying for the bereavement payment has anyone ever applied for this?

She is worried it will effect her other benefits - but am I right in saying it only effects them if you have some of the lump sum remaining after a year?

Also if she applies for bereavement payment and I apply for funeral expenses payment will they expect her to pay for the funeral with the bereavement payment?

Any help would be appreciated, a confusing and stressful time. Thankyou

Owain_Moneysaver

If your mother was the nominated beneficiary of the insurance policy then it passes from the insurer to her and never becomes part of your father's estate and could not have been used to pay for the funeral.

DWP might ask why your mother isn't using it to pay towards the funeral, but that's between them and your mother.

Did your father have no other assets whatsoever? Are there any other debts? There is a danger that the estate may be insolvent and if there are other debts to pay (if your father owed money) then you must be very careful before adminstering his estate.

Funeral directors should be understanding that they can't always be paid immediately and if you can pay £1100 and tell them you are claiming a DWP payment for the remainder they should know what sort of timescales are involved with this.

Brynsam

Talk to the funeral director. This new and horrible situation (for you) is everyday stuff for them. I'm sorry it has made your bereavement even more unpleasant.

Yorkshireman99

seville_2003 wrote: »

Hello
I'm needing some advice about paying my Dads funeral director. The funeral has to be paid in 28 days, I currently have £1,100 I can pay but I'm short of the rest and I'm unsure how the funeral director will react to this. Does anyone have any experience of dealing with funeral directors when you're short, do they put a plan in place, does it go to debt collectors?

My dad had an insurance policy but because he was still married to my mother (despite being seperated for over 20 years) it had to be paid into her bank. She was supposed to give me the money but she revealed to me last night she has blew the lot.. nearly 2 grand to my shock(might I add that my Dad brought me up my whole life and I was aware of what she was like) but it was still a shock, I'm in a bit of a situation now and she won't be able to pay it back for months.

So my options: Firstly I had considered applying for funeral expenses payment but I have a few questions about it which make me unsure:

I'm unemployed currently and on universal credit so I believe I can apply..

I believe it will ask on the form about relatives spouse of my father - he has a sister he has not spoken to in over a decade - they wouldn't try and contact her would they? the last thing I would want is her to know I'm applying for this. And would they contact my mother.

Secondly with him having an insurance plan will they look into this - like I say my mother was due it because technically they were still married. Will they have expected this to go to the funeral?

Finally I had suggested my mother applying for the bereavement payment has anyone ever applied for this?

She is worried it will effect her other benefits - but am I right in saying it only effects them if you have some of the lump sum remaining after a year?

Also if she applies for bereavement payment and I apply for funeral expenses payment will they expect her to pay for the funeral with the bereavement payment?

Any help would be appreciated, a confusing and stressful time. Thankyou

If treat are nit enough funds the council have ro pay. End of story. The funeral director can tell you where to apply.

Mojisola

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

If treat are nit enough funds the council have ro pay. End of story. The funeral director can tell you where to apply.

The council won't pay if someone has signed an agreement with the FD.

To make use of the council or NHS funded funerals, it has to be done through them.

Silvertabby

Mojisola wrote: »

The council won't pay if someone has signed an agreement with the FD.

To make use of the council or NHS funded funerals, it has to be done through them.

Mojisola is right. In the case of a (horribly named) public health funeral, the funeral has to be arranged by the council/hospital. If OP signed the contract with the FD then he/she is liable for the full amount.

They may be able to apply for a funeral grant (which is probably only about £1K now, but will at least help) but it is means tested for both the applicant and the deceased.