Being threatened for funeral expenses

Flugelhorn

sounds like there is unlikely to be anything in the estate, the sister made a mistake in organising the funeral and signing the forms, it made her liable to pay for it and there is no way of her getting the money back now.
In these circumstances ie insolvent estate, no money, the council or hospital will arrange a simple funeral. 

es5595

I’d send a letter to the family, something short, sweet and to the point. 

“Dear Generous Family,
It was very nice of you to organise a funeral for your brother, we were a bit surprised to receive the invite as we’d been expecting a paupers funeral, we didn’t realise you were so close. 

As you’d expect, his estate is insolvent, but we understand that you can claim funeral expenses first, so Mum and (siblings) are happy for you to administer it and claim back anything you can. 

Yours sincerely,
XXX

onwards&upwards

Agree with the above, except its called a public health funeral, not a pauper's. 

74jax

es5595 said:

I’d send a letter to the family, something short, sweet and to the point. 

“Dear Generous Family,
It was very nice of you to organise a funeral for your brother, we were a bit surprised to receive the invite as we’d been expecting a public health  funeral, we didn’t realise you were so close. 

As you’d expect, his estate is insolvent, but we understand that you can claim funeral expenses first, so Mum and (siblings) are happy for you to administer it and claim back anything you can. 

Yours sincerely,
XXX

Great idea above. If probably leave the bit about being so close out, but otherwise I'd go with this. 
Let them administer, you don't do anything - leave the paperwork you mention alone - in an insolvent death you really don't want to do anything. Even informing a company of death can be classed as intermeddling. Best to stay well out of it. 

choiceparalysis5

Thank you all for your replies. I’m going to send them a letter.

We wouldn’t ever have left it to be a public health funeral, I’d have borrowed money. I’d even have borrowed money after the fact and paid them back if they’d behaved. So they’ve not really done themselves many favours. 

choiceparalysis5

Would I be better to send his documents (passport etc) if I bc an retrieve them or is that getting involved? 

sammyjammy

Its likely your Mum would have been entitled to a funeral grant from DWP but that ship has sailed.  You say your Mum wouldn't be eating if you weren't sending money for food, does she not claim any benefits?  Pension credit?

onwards&upwards

choiceparalysis5 said:

Would I be better to send his documents (passport etc) if I bc an retrieve them or is that getting involved? 

Don't do anything.  They probably won't actually want to administer. 

gwynlas

Please make sure that your mum is claiming everything that she is currently entitled to including single person discount on council tax
You say that he died young so possibly under pensionable age.

macman

So who is now paying the rent?