How long do I wait after Probate

Robbo_30

I am sole executor of my late Mothers estate and obtained Grant of probate 7 weeks ago.  She passed away in April.  Mum did have pension credit but ended in December last year when we sold her house to pay for her care home.  I had to pay back 1 months PC as I was late informing them.  

I have read so much about DWP investigations into means tested benefits after someones death.   I don't have any issues with that, but how long do  you wait to for DWP to contact you as I understand not every person gets these notice of investigations?

I am keen to get on with things as I don't keep in the best of health myself.  I have been dealing with my Mum's financial matters for 10-15 years so am comfortable that there are no debtors or likely claims on Mum's estate other than those listed in her Will.

Can someone give me information on how long should I wait for the DWP?

Thanks

Rob

badmemory

If you are the main beneficiary of the will then it is fairly irrelevant, especially as you have been dealing with her finances for so long.  If they do require repaying anything (unlikely from what you have said) then you as executor would have to pay it & trust that you as beneficiary would pay you back.  More problematic if you only have a smaller share though.  But unless at some time a savings account was overlooked when applying for PC I cannot see that you can have a problem.  Most issues seem to arise when the probate shows more than a PC claim would be accepted for, usually because of the sale of a property.  But you had already dealt with that.

SevenOfNine

When my aunt died we had the standard 'might investigate' letter, followed some weeks later with a request for financial statements going back further than a financial organisation keeps them! So I just sent the oldest we could get from the bank (back 6 years), her benefit had been a 'one off' assessment 8 years previously.  She'd still have qualified even back at the 6 year point, so owed nothing.  The lump of savings she had were that weekly benefit that she'd been saving, whilst living like a pauper.

In total it took about 5/6 months, but my mum was sole beneficiary, in no hurry to spend her inheritance (£25K) so just stuck it in a building society until the all clear from DWP.