Funeral Grant refused

solfleur

my father passed away in january this year, I have applied for funding from the funeral payment social fund but have been refused because we are on the basic family child tax credit( worked out there is only 49p difference from that of the higher rate) ...thinking of appealing.....I can't get a budgeting loan as I don't claim any other benefits (jsa,incapacity etc as work 36 hours) also contenplating applying for a crisis loan...any advice would be helpful

PipsoG

I applied for the funeral grant when my partner died. They refused me as I applied one day late after the cut off point. I was in hospital and then a nursing home so was not physically or mentally able to make the claim sooner [away from home for 3 months]

I appealed the decision as I felt that there were circumstances why I couldn't make the claim earlier. I went to the Tribunal and the Chairman agreed that I should receive the money but on a point of law regarding time limits he could not make a judgement in my favour as the DWP would only appeal the decision and win under this stupid law. Therefore I left the Tribunal with nothing but sympathy from the Chairman - not a lot of good when you are faced with a £2250.00 bill and no money to pay it. I am still paying the funeral director out of benefit bit by bit.

When you are in hospital for 4 weeks in acute surgical ward and then a nursing home and not allowed to go home, severely disabled, no family and nobody acting as my support as my parter prior to death was my principal carer filling out forms and thinking about money was not exactly high on my agenda!

As they say ...... Life's a !!!!! and then you die!

dmg24

solfleur wrote: »

my father passed away in january this year, I have applied for funding from the funeral payment social fund but have been refused because we are on the basic family child tax credit( worked out there is only 49p difference from that of the higher rate) ...thinking of appealing.....I can't get a budgeting loan as I don't claim any other benefits (jsa,incapacity etc as work 36 hours) also contenplating applying for a crisis loan...any advice would be helpful

There is no point in appealing because you do not meet the criteria. Could you arrange a payment plan with the funeral director?

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/sb16-a-guide-to-the-social/funeral-payments/

AsknAnswer2

An appeal tribunal can't change the law, I'm afraid.

If you were not in receipt of a qualifying benefit you are not entitled. The law states this as the first condition of entitlement: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20053061.htm