Funeral payment when on benefits?

marc.faulkner

Hi,

I'm posting this on behalf of my Mother, who lost her partner earlier this week.

He was on incapacity benefit, as he could hardly walk. She is a full time mother to their daughter and his three children from a previous relationship.

Obviously she now has the task of sorting out his funeral, however it's going to cost an awful lot of money, which she doesn't have.

She will recieve a social fund payment to cover the costs, however the funeral directors have said they need a £1400 payment on Monday to go ahead with the funeral on Friday. Between me and her, we can only come up with about half of that.

Any idea's would be greatly appreciated. :

judy2357

Take a look at the Directgov website and search under Funeral payment, maybe this could help

marc.faulkner

judy2357 wrote: »

Take a look at the Directgov website and search under Funeral payment, maybe this could help

Thanks, I've had a look. The problem is they want paying on Monday, and we can't even get the form until Monday :eek:

Sagaris

Try a different funeral directors if you can? My future FIL died 6 weeks ago and the funeral was 2 weeks later - MIL is still waiting for her funeral payment from the social, the undertakers have been really understanding about it.
Sorry to hear of your loss too.

marc.faulkner

Sagaris wrote: »

Try a different funeral directors if you can? My future FIL dies 6 weeks ago and the funeral was 2 weeks later - MIL is still waiting for her funeral payment from the socail, the undertakers have been really understanding about it.
Sorry to hear of your loss too.

Thank you, that is what I was expecting to be the case.

The problem is, my mother had already signed and agreed before they stated that they needed the money on Monday (which she realises was a mistake, however she wasn't exepcting them to be so unreasonable).

They're moving the body this evening...

Thank you for your kind wishes, I wasn't very close to him however this has destroyed my Mother and the 4 children.

judy2357

I dont understand why the funeral has to be paid before it happens, this doesnt usually happen as in many cases money has to come out of an estate and this takes time. Perhaps you could contact another undertakers and ask their opinion or maybe someone will come on to this thread and help you.

marc.faulkner

Thanks for all of your comments.

I've arranged to have the week off work, so I'll be travelling to my mothers this evening and then going with her to the funeral directors on Monday to see whether we can't get some sense out of them!

arlybarly

marc faulkner

my sisters husband died a few weeks ago as well and he had been made redundant a couple of years previously. he was signing on or whatever its called at the time of his sudden death. anyway my sis was aked for 1000 pounds upfront before theyd do the funeral. which i think was totally unreasonable as she has 3 kids as well.

anyway my parents paid the whole funeral for her and now she is having a terrible time trying to recoperate the costs off the dwp. i would be careful before paying anything upfront as you may not get the full entitlement after.

im not sure but it sounds to me like the funeral directors are asking for a downpayment if you are recieving dole money.

my natural father died last year and at no time was i asked for payment up front, i just settled the bill from his estate after the funeral.

hope this helps and good luck xx

Debt_Free_Chick

judy2357 wrote: »

I dont understand why the funeral has to be paid before it happens, this doesnt usually happen as in many cases money has to come out of an estate and this takes time. Perhaps you could contact another undertakers and ask their opinion or maybe someone will come on to this thread and help you.

I understand completely where you're coming from, but funeral directors are private businesses. They still have to pay their staff and put fuel in the vehicles.

Those that will wait for payment are, indeed, very understanding - but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that they could end up laying off staff or going out of business if they have to wait for too many payments.

Overdraft? No savings? Who is the executor of his estate - could they advance payment of the outstanding amount? Afterall, funeral costs are the first thing to come out of the estate (if there is one!)

alwaysonthego_2

I advised a lady on the same situation as you yesturday (CAB). I got the lady to fill out an income expenditure sheet and gave her a template letter to offer the funeral directors a token payment of a £1 per month. She was on benefits and could not afford to pay these fees after the social funeral grant payment. If you need further help PM me!


edit you don't mention whether the partner had an estate (savings/property)

marc.faulkner

Thanks.

Unfortunately there is currently no estate (he was disabled, did not work and had no savings). He was due to receive inheritance from his recently deceased father (approx 20k), however as he has dies before probate was granted it seems that this money will be shared amongst his siblings.