PIP, Carers Allowance & Death of a Spouse

Ianstone1

My Brother's wife has died and he's now panicking about benefits, etc.  His wife received higher level of PIP and he received a carers allowance too. They live in a housing association property and he's a joint tenant.  I've been trying to search out information about what happens when a spouse on PIP dies and when the claim will end, etc.  I'm trying to support him, but I'm not sure what to do/say.

His Wife was over pension age, but he has about 6 years left of his working life.  

He's worried about overpayments being claimed back, about how he will be able to afford to grieve properly and when he will need to claim in his own right.  It's a bit of a tricky one, but I wondered whether anyone here has any advice I can take back to him?  He has little money and his wife's funeral plan is 11 months in and therefore ineligible to claim against.

Of all the things that he's dealing with the benefits situation is probably the one affecting him the most.

poppy12345

He can use the tell it once service and this will cover all the benefits she was claiming. https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once

Carers allowance can continue for up to 8 weeks after the death.

What other benefits if any were they claiming as a couple? Housing benefit, ESA? Universal Credit? If it's ESA then who was the main claimant of this?

He will be able to apply for bereavement support payment. Details here. https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment

If he claims certain benefits then he will be able to get help with funeral costs. See link. https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/eligibility

Ianstone1

I'm not sure about other benefits.  She was in poor health and had a range of disabilities.  She was moved from DLA onto PIP some time ago.  My Brother was her carer 24/7/365 in receipt of a carers allowance.

Thank you for your information - that's a real help.

poppy12345

It would be helpful to find out exactly what other benefits they may have been claiming and come back with that information because it's impossible to give correct advice without more information.

tacpot12

If he uses the Tell Us Once service promptly, PIP should stop very quickly. If PIP is paid now he needs to put the money on one side as it will be claimed back.

Ianstone1

tacpot12 said:

If he uses the Tell Us Once service promptly, PIP should stop very quickly. If PIP is paid now he needs to put the money on one side as it will be claimed back.

They have zero money and are struggling to pay for the funeral... I've reached out and asked him about what benefits, etc, they're on... but, wouldn't the PIP be reclaimed from the estate?  If there is no money in the estate, does the debt effectively die also?

Alice_Holt

Ianstone1 said:

tacpot12 said:

If he uses the Tell Us Once service promptly, PIP should stop very quickly. If PIP is paid now he needs to put the money on one side as it will be claimed back.

They have zero money and are struggling to pay for the funeral... I've reached out and asked him about what benefits, etc, they're on... but, wouldn't the PIP be reclaimed from the estate?  If there is no money in the estate, does the debt effectively die also?

       More importantly, you and your brother need to think about what what benefits to claim now for when the 8 week run on of CA ends.  
      Also how does he pay the rent for the HA property?   Is he getting help with his council tax bill ?

    As you / he aren't able to tell us about current benefits (ESA ? / Housing Benefit? / or UC ? / CTr?), then it would be sensible for your brother to contact his local advice charity for a benefit check. He will need to have details of his current circumstances and benefits.
  They may be able to advise on help with funeral costs (see poppy's link).

   Clearly the first step is to notify via https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once  as poppy has suggested.
Other organisations to notify may include his HA (via his housing officer).  It's possible his HA may have a benefits advice service. 

poppy12345

Ianstone1 said:

tacpot12 said:

If he uses the Tell Us Once service promptly, PIP should stop very quickly. If PIP is paid now he needs to put the money on one side as it will be claimed back.

  but, wouldn't the PIP be reclaimed from the estate?

No, it will just end. Any money paid to him after the death of his wife will need to be repaid back so he will need to keep that to one side.

They must have been claiming some benefits, if they weren't how did they pay the rent?

Rubyroobs

If his wife was claiming ESA and received money also for him, then he will now need to make a new claim for Universal credit. Carers allowance should run on for 8 weeks.
If they were claiming a means tested benefit that may qualify them for help from a DWP funeral grant.
If he claims UC he should have easements due to his bereavement meaning he should not be pushed to look for work or have full work search  commitments for 6 months following bereavement.

Ianstone1

Thank you everyone for you help, information and advice.  I've spoken to him today and he confirms that all the benefits were bundled up into PIP... this was for the following:
- Living Expenses
- Carers Support
- Disability Income Guarantee (As the PIP tracks at lower than the DLA she received previously)
- PIP - Mobility Component
- PIP - Daily Living Component
- PIP - Carers Allowance.
The benefit package also entitled to free dental, prescriptions, council tax and rent (CTB/HB).

He also advises that they've had problems in the past with claiming other benefits because the websites, etc, still talk about the 'old' gateway benefits (such as ESA / DLA, etc)... so unsure whether that impacts on the death allowances, etc, etc as they don't specifically reference PIP.

Ianstone1

Rubyroobs said:

If his wife was claiming ESA and received money also for him, then he will now need to make a new claim for Universal credit. Carers allowance should run on for 8 weeks.
If they were claiming a means tested benefit that may qualify them for help from a DWP funeral grant.
If he claims UC he should have easements due to his bereavement meaning he should not be pushed to look for work or have full work search  commitments for 6 months following bereavement.

Yes, all the benefits were paid to her and he claimed a carers allowance through HER PIP payments.