Death of adult son 14 January at 11:15AM edited 16 January at 1:34PM in Benefits & tax credits 7 replies 889 views

clo-jo

A friend of mine has lost her adult son recently. 

She lives alone in a rented house and he has been living with her  but was not working. She is entitled to 3 days compassionate leave from work only.
she has been unable to return after that as is a broken woman. 

There appears to be no help...is there? 

There must be something! She has bills to pay but sickness pay just won't cover bills.
thankyou

Gers

clo-jo said:

A friend of mine has lost her adult son recently. 

She lives alone in a rented house and he has been living with her  but was not working. She is entitled to 3 days compassionate leave from work only.
she has been unable to return after that as is a broken woman. 

There appears to be no help...is there? 

There must be something! She has bills to pay but sickness pay just won't cover bills.
thankyou

How awful for your friend - your query may be better answered on another board, people there are very helpful and knowledgable.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits 

Misslayed

Move requested

Marcon

clo-jo said:

A friend of mine has lost her adult son recently. 

She lives alone in a rented house and he has been living with her  but was not working. She is entitled to 3 days compassionate leave from work only.
she has been unable to return after that as is a broken woman. 

There appears to be no help...is there? 

There must be something! She has bills to pay but sickness pay just won't cover bills.
thankyou

Poor woman.

Does her employer understand that it's her son who has died? She may not have been able to bring herself to tell them, and if she has simply described it as a 'death of close family member', they could think it's a 99 year old grandparent she's not seen for years.

Brie

Some employers are completely heartless and will simply stick to whatever policy is suggested in the staff handbook or promoted by HR.   I understand that it's fair that way but is a horrible when someone is really suffering.  

Did he have any pensions from previous employment?  Is there any occupational assistance available??  I'm thinking that if he or mom worked for a bank there would be help via Bank Workers Charity.  If either had been in the military perhaps SSAFA could help.  Maybe a union?  If you are able to name the industry either has worked in perhaps someone could offer something more concrete??

Annabee

I understand that what people do in these circumstances is go to their GP and ask to be signed off sick. The amount of mental distress the poor woman must be in makes her unfit to work.  I heard that GPs are used to this situation and willing to help. I hope to goodness this is still the case.

Edit : on rereading I see that your friend is already receiving statutory sick pay, but this is not covering her costs. I know SSP is a very low amount. I don't know what to suggest, is she in a union, they might be able to help?

SevenOfNine

She may find the best practical advice, & lived experience, here  https://www.tcf.org.uk she will have to ask to join, but DOES NOT have to pay membership or make any donation, her 'qualifier' as tragic as it is, is the loss of her son.

The have numerous advice leaflets she can access, a bereavement telephone helpline, forums & assorted facebook pages, support & advice from all directions, people who walk in her shoes.

You can't do it for her, it's strictly bereaved parents, grandparents & siblings, with a high privacy level, but you could help her navigate it all once she has been accepted.

poppy12345

If she's entitled to SSP from her employer then they must pay her this first and she'll need to get a fit note from her GP.

She then needs to use a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit. If she has savings/capital of more than £16,000 she's excluded from claiming.

As she rents her home the UC will include help with any rent. If she's renting privately then she will be entitled to the 1 bedroom rate of local housing allowance. If she's renting from social housing then will 2 spare bedrooms they will be a reduction of 25% in her housing element.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=86289a07-fa19-4f0d-81bf-9fc6ebe4552b

She can report her health condition supported by a fit note within 7 days of that, if she claims UC.