Guaranteed pension credit

lollilola

Hi I am asking for a bereaved friend. My friends husband died about 8 months ago. They were as a couple on the guaranteed pension credit then her husband passed away. So she claimed the same benefit in her own name. It took some 6 months to come through in that time she lived off her savings of about £2000 and had a loan from a friend for another £1000. So now she has no savings so if she dies who pays as she has no family left at all. The pension credit people say she isn't entitled to any backdated monies. Is this correct please. I am asking for her as she cant mentally tackle this problem at the moment due to grief.

KxMx

The local authority would arrange a public health funeral.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-health-funerals-good-practice-guidance/public-health-funerals-good-practice-guidance

Silvertabby

The term 'public health funeral' sounds very cold,  but they are carried out respectfully.

A friend used to work for a funeral director, and so arranged many of these services.  The default option is cremation, after which the ashes are either scattered in the crematorium gardens, or given to family or friends for a private scattering.  The services are carried out as and when they can be fitted in by the crematorium, and may be for more than one person, so family/friends may not be allowed to attend.

Burial may be an option, usually for religious purposes, but the grave may not be permanently marked in any way.  ie, no headstone or decorations.  

Sadly, being buried with her husband (if he was buried) in a paid-for grave won't be an option for this lady if she does have a PH funeral.  But a kind vicar may allow her ashes to be scattered there.

sheramber

Presumably, she has state pension?

Is she  is eligible for any inherited pension from her husband?

It should be automatic but the Pension Service can advise.

https://www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service

Is she getting all the benefits she is due council tax single discount, council tax reduction for low income, housing benefit for help with rent?

You can use one of the online benefit calculators to check if she can any help.

sammyjammy

It sounds to me like something has gone wrong, my aunty was in the same position, she had her PC reinstated for a singe person within a couple of weeks fully backdated.  

Brie

Would she qualify for other benefits?  Maybe Attendance Allowance?  Not a lot but everything will help.

pmlindyloo

lollilola said:

Hi I am asking for a bereaved friend. My friends husband died about 8 months ago. They were as a couple on the guaranteed pension credit then her husband passed away. So she claimed the same benefit in her own name. It took some 6 months to come through in that time she lived off her savings of about £2000 and had a loan from a friend for another £1000. So now she has no savings so if she dies who pays as she has no family left at all. The pension credit people say she isn't entitled to any backdated monies. Is this correct please. I am asking for her as she cant mentally tackle this problem at the moment due to grief.

I agree that this does not sound correct.  

Her Pension Credit should have been backdated to the date of her husband's death.

It is difficult to advise without more information.  Is it possible that she was receiving some extra income for a while?  Have you been able to check the paperwork?

All I can suggest is that she makes a telephone call to find out what has happened.