Life Insurance Claim advice

ChampagneKisses

Hi everyone,

Currently in the process of a life insurance claim for my Dad. I have 2 siblings who I unfortunately have to deal with (one is a money grabbing so-and-so who has done me the dirty already). Anyway, I sent the application off and the Insurance company contacted me saying they needed one more supporting document from my sibling. She sent this off and apparently they have said that a payment will be made within 10-12 days.

This sibling cannot be trusted, so everything she says I second guess. As far as I’m concerned, the application hasn’t even gone to the Medical Assessors yet, as I’ve had no update to say so. Also, I only sent the application off less than 2 weeks ago and the final supporting document was sent yesterday.

Furthermore, my Dad had a heart condition that wasn’t declared on the life insurance policy, even though he passed away from something else. So I am not hopeful that this claim is going to get accepted anyway.

Basically, I’m just asking if this is a realistic timeframe that my sibling is quoting and any thoughts on the heart condition nondisclosure.

Thanks,
CK

Robin9

Is there a will ? 

ChampagneKisses

Sorry, forgot to say - no Will.

Weighty1

Sorry about your loss.

What heart conditon did your dad have which wasn' declared on the application?

There are 3 types of non-disclosure, innocent, careless and reckless/deliberate.  Generally, if it falls into the innocent category then you'd expect a full payout, if it's a careless non-disclosure then you *may* get a full payout OR the insurer may only pay out a partial amount and then if it's a reckless/deliberate non-disclosure nothing may be paid out, however, that does depend on what was not disclosed and how it would have affected the original application and terms offered.

I'd not expect a payment to be made until ALL the medical information and supporting documentation has been assessed.  Have the insurer obtained a doctors report?  This is normally the first step for any life insurance claim as this confirms whether all relevant information was disclosed at the point of application.  Most doctors take around 3 weeks to complete these reports so, again, it'd be surprising if the insurer had obtained this already based on the timeframes you have given.

Can you ask the insurer to provide you with any/all the information your sibling gets to ensure you are fully in the picture?

Nearlyold

Was the policy taken out before or after the heart condition was diagnosed?

ChampagneKisses

I now have the money in my account and I need to split it 3 ways. My sibling who basically got access to my Dad’s bank account (unlawfully may I add) was meant to split that money 3 ways but did not. When questioned, she had the audacity to tell me she had to pay for clothes, suitcases, pay for travel whilst she was away from home, at Dad’s house(!). 

My question is, am
i correct in saying that I do have every right to deduct what money I was due from the bank account and other belongings of his that I know she is intending to sell and won’t willingly give up my portion of the sale.

Thank you,
CK

CSI_Yorkshire

No.  Neither of you can just "make deductions" from the estate based on what might or might not happen.

Your sibling doing dodgy things doesn't mean you can.

Whoever is distributing the estate based on intestacy can re-allocate assets to make sure the split is correct though.

ChampagneKisses

Thanks for the response CSI.

My main question here is, she has had money from the bank account and I haven’t had my 3rd of this and I know the money is already spent. Do I have a right to deduct what I’m owed from the bank account from this life insurance I’ll be giving to her shortly?

thanks,
CK

ChampagneKisses

She has also said she is keeping the items (that she’s going to sell) which are worth quite a bit of money.

CSI_Yorkshire

Who is dealing with the estate?  Did someone actually get granted probate?

ChampagneKisses

No probate was needed as it’s a small estate (money in the bank, personal belongings and life insurance).