Funeral questions

[alferret]

Looking for some information about what happens after someone dies.

Friend of mines dad died 4 weeks ago, lived in a council house, nothing of value in the estate (contents were old crud) didnt leave a will, had a couple of weeks pension payments in a PO account and only a couple of quid in a bank account.

His dad died 22/7 while my mate was on holiday, neighbours arranged the funeral and my mate not knowing much about much just signed the paperwork without looking at it. He's now in debt to the tune of £2200 to the FD. He has no job (made redundant in march) and is in receipt of job seekers allowance.
Is there a benefit he could claim to help him with paying for the funeral cost's?

Also there is a letter from Moorcroft debt collection agency about an outstanding debt with great universal for the sum of £2600, as this would be a personal debt to his dad would I be right in saying that if there was nothing in the estate that all he would have to do is write to moorcroft with a copy of the death cert and that would be that?

My mate is of below avg IQ (not thick but not knowlegable) he lives with his partner who seems to have a simular IQ so I'm trying to help them but I'm not in a position finacially or do I know much about what needs to be done ect.

Any advice would be greatly apreciatded.

Al

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Hi Alferret, l think, l might be able to solve the problem;

1) When the person passed away, you could have contacted the DHSS, as sometimes, they will pay for a minimal fee towards the funeral, if the neighbours went ahead and organised the funeral, have a word with the FD, and ask them for help, l honestly cannot see them doing anything bad towards you, they also can arrange, something with the Benefit agency.

2) if the debt is the deceased, the debt normally is written off, unless someone has gurranteed the debt, subject to the death certificate, the sad thing about debt, is that these debt recovery people, don't give a damn about people, they are evil people, if you get problems contact 'National Debt Helpline ', you will find there phone number on the PC or directory enquiries.

I hope that helps mate, l know what it is like, when my mother passed away.

Good luck (and try not to worry about it )

[Caff]

This seems pretty helpful:

http://www.funeralsearch.co.uk/help-with-costs.php

and Bless his neighbours for organising the funeral for him. He must have been well-liked.

Normally, the fees would be recovered from the estate... such as it was.

[alferret]

Thanks both for your comments\suggestions and links I will pass on the information

[Stu's lil sister]

Hi!

I'm Stuart C's little sister. I came on here to try to find out how to fix a fault on the V+ box without Stuart around.

Anyhooo, sorting out funeral payments for the Benefits agency used to be part of my job so I can help with this. Right, as your friend is on Job seekers and is the deceased's next of kin he will be able to claim funeral expenses. You haven't mentioned any other benefits or money that would stop a payment. He needs to fill in form SF200 with a black biro (they can be quite anal about the colour pen you use Here's the SF200 http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claim...f200_print.pdf
, he can print it off, fill it in and send off to the local Benefits Agency. If he has any questions he should phone them straight away or go into the local branch. I was forever filling in forms for people so it won't be a problem. When I worked for them a few years back the customer had to supply an official bill from the funeral directors which is a break down of the funeral details. I shouldn't think this has changed.

They will cover all the costs for a basic funeral and flowers (though different offices can have different allowances for flowers) Basically if the neighbours have gone for a standard funeral and haven't had more than one hearse and one car following and a coffin made of solid oak or similar he should be covered. Any costs out of the ordinary *may* not be covered and he will have to find a way to foot the rest of the bill, but I'm sure he can come to an arrangement with the funeral directors.

I hope this is of some help and it gets sorted out for your friend soon.

[Matt D]

Stu's lil sister

That's some good advice

[alferret]

Originally Posted by Stu's lil sister

Hi!

I'm Stuart C's little sister. I came on here to try to find out how to fix a fault on the V+ box without Stuart around.

Anyhooo, sorting out funeral payments for the Benefits agency used to be part of my job so I can help with this. Right, as your friend is on Job seekers and is the deceased's next of kin he will be able to claim funeral expenses. You haven't mentioned any other benefits or money that would stop a payment. He needs to fill in form SF200 with a black biro (they can be quite anal about the colour pen you use Here's the SF200 http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claim...f200_print.pdf
, he can print it off, fill it in and send off to the local Benefits Agency. If he has any questions he should phone them straight away or go into the local branch. I was forever filling in forms for people so it won't be a problem. When I worked for them a few years back the customer had to supply an official bill from the funeral directors which is a break down of the funeral details. I shouldn't think this has changed.

They will cover all the costs for a basic funeral and flowers (though different offices can have different allowances for flowers) Basically if the neighbours have gone for a standard funeral and haven't had more than one hearse and one car following and a coffin made of solid oak or similar he should be covered. Any costs out of the ordinary *may* not be covered and he will have to find a way to foot the rest of the bill, but I'm sure he can come to an arrangement with the funeral directors.

I hope this is of some help and it gets sorted out for your friend soon.

Excellent advice, many thanks. Info now passed on.

Just to add he gets contribution based job seekers allowance 59.15 and his partner earns 149pw NET, no other income or benefits AFAIK. From what he told me tonight he isnt allowed any benefits and due to his job seekers being contribution based according to CAB he wont get anything.

[WHISTLED]

Two rare posts on the same thread!

One fully researched and perfectly informed which does the job perfectly... and another where Arthur has used paragraphs!

[Stu's lil sister]

Originally Posted by alferret

Excellent advice, many thanks. Info now passed on.

Just to add he gets contribution based job seekers allowance 59.15 and his partner earns 149pw NET, no other income or benefits AFAIK. From what he told me tonight he isnt allowed any benefits and due to his job seekers being contribution based according to CAB he wont get anything.

Hmmm With Job Seekers at that rate he *should* be entitled to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or both. Get him to phone the local DSS, ask for Social Fund and explain everything. They'll have all his benefit and tax details on the computer and should be able to tell him if he can claim.

Or you could use this benefits calculator to help him http://www.entitledto.co.uk/default.aspx

[alferret]

Originally Posted by Stu's lil sister

Hmmm With Job Seekers at that rate he *should* be entitled to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or both. Get him to phone the local DSS, ask for Social Fund and explain everything. They'll have all his benefit and tax details on the computer and should be able to tell him if he can claim.

Or you could use this benefits calculator to help him http://www.entitledto.co.uk/default.aspx

I have just spoke to him again and urged him to go fill out the forms and get this sorted. He like many others listen to what others without knowledge say and then not bother.

Many thanks once again, your a star for taking the time to help.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Stu's lil sister

Hi!

I'm Stuart C's little sister. I came on here to try to find out how to fix a fault on the V+ box without Stuart around.

You realise you're going to have to spill all the beans now, don't you. Did he vandalise your barbie dolls? shave your cabbage patch kids?

[Stu's lil sister]

Many thanks once again, your a star for taking the time to help.

No problem

Originally Posted by Chris T

You realise you're going to have to spill all the beans now, don't you. Did he vandalise your barbie dolls? shave your cabbage patch kids?

No, but he did take my Speak n' Spell apart and reassemble it because he didn't think the accent was right. It never spoke again

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by Chris T

You realise you're going to have to spill all the beans now, don't you. Did he vandalise your barbie dolls? shave your cabbage patch kids?

or better still, did he take your barbie dolls for his own use, lol

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Chris T

You realise you're going to have to spill all the beans now, don't you. Did he vandalise your barbie dolls? shave your cabbage patch kids?

'Shave your cabbage patch'? Frankly I'm shocked that a mod could use that phrase on a family forum

[Maggy J]

Originally Posted by Nugget

'Shave your cabbage patch'? Frankly I'm shocked that a mod could use that phrase on a family forum

Now where is Mr LM when you expect him..Seems I've not seen him around for ages...