PIP - after someone dies

Cambeen

My mother passed away last week. She was receiving PIP and her last payment was 3 weeks before she died. I have recieved a letter today from benefits agency asking for my details to act on her behalf, for any ongoing payments or applications. It continues to say if I don't contact them they will close the case, however further on in the letter there is a section stating I may be responsible for paying any overpayment! I find it very confusing. Do I need to contact them and Would I need to pay back her PIP payment that she recieved 3 weeks prior to her death? 

marcia_

Cambeen said:

My mother passed away last week. She was receiving PIP and her last payment was 3 weeks before she died. I have recieved a letter today from benefits agency asking for my details to act on her behalf, for any ongoing payments or applications. It continues to say if I don't contact them they will close the case, however further on in the letter there is a section stating I may be responsible for paying any overpayment! I find it very confusing. Do I need to contact them and Would I need to pay back her PIP payment that she recieved 3 weeks prior to her death? 

 Yes phone them and tell them she has passed and to close her claim. 

 You are not personally responsible for paying back any benefits owed.
 If there is any money left of your mums after paying for the funeral then it should be paid for out if that. Otherwise you do not have to pay it yourself 

TELLIT01

I don't know if the same applies to benefits such as PIP as applies to overpayment of pension to the deceased.  For pension overpayment, DWP can ask for the overpayment to be paid back but can't insist.  At least that used to be the case.  Somebody with more recent knowledge may be able to confirm or otherwise.

HillStreetBlues

In this case they owe the Estate 3 weeks worth of PIP, so don't close the claim until they have paid up.

teaselMay

Is pip paid in arrears? I think it might be, if so they owe the estate

HillStreetBlues

teaselMay said:

Is pip paid in arrears? I think it might be, if so they owe the estate

It is, and they do.

p00hsticks

TELLIT01 said:

I don't know if the same applies to benefits such as PIP as applies to overpayment of pension to the deceased.  For pension overpayment, DWP can ask for the overpayment to be paid back but can't insist.  At least that used to be the case.  Somebody with more recent knowledge may be able to confirm or otherwise.

This has just come on another thread, and I think it was stated there that there is a proviso that  '

For pension overpayment, DWP can ask for the overpayment to be paid back but can't insist providing that the overpayment was made after DWP had been informed of the death..