Can an unclaimed works pension be used for funeral expenses

geminian68 · 14-11-2010, 20:42

To cut a long story short my brother sadly passed away today. On Wednesday within just three hours from him arising (dressing, make a cuppa, turn on tv) I came downstairs and found him unconscious (hemorrhage), five hours later ALS was removed (irreparable brain damage due to pressure from fluid on the brain) he somehow survived for 82 hours with just oxygen and morphine (NBM) I was permitted to be with him over this 4 day period, seeing a grown man as helpless as a baby was indescribable.

I have so many things to do this week ((pick up death certificate, register death, contact DWP (I was his carer so will no longer have any benefit), Council (he was the tenant since our parents died, can't see them letting me stay in a 3 bedroom semi, alone, even if we have lived here for the past 28 years), arrange his funeral)). So wondered if anyone knew if his unclaimed NHS occupational pension could be used for funeral expenses or has it now been lost (he was waiting until 65 to claim, so he would have a little more than just a state retirement pension) it would of payed for his funeral 3+ times, I've noted it states partners and dependants online but not whether brothers can claim assistance, help sites (even NHS's) state several weeks for reply, I recall last year when I contacted them for info required by DWP it took a couple of months to eventually get my brothers pension credit/Housing/Council Tax benefits sorted.

Sasha222 · 14-11-2010, 20:51

I just want to pay my condonlances to you for the loss of your brother. So so sorry to hear your of your loss. R.I.P

superbiatch · 14-11-2010, 21:02

OMG thats so tragic - i lost a very good friend a few years back under the exact same circumstances, she had a bad headache and went to bed, she was found some hours later by her son and then was unconscious for two weeks before passing away. I'm so sorry for your loss

I'm sure there must be some kind of bereavement charity who can help with all your questions or even the CAB??

Edit - Try this http://www.facingbereavement.co.uk/F...sCategory.html

It looks as though you may be able to apply for help from the social fund http://www.facingbereavement.co.uk/F...ssistance.html

geminian68 · 14-11-2010, 23:45

Thank you for the condolences.

It's the fact that there was no indication of illness, he was alright upto nearly 1am, went to bed, I heard him get up a around 10am, and as you would appreciate if you live with some one then you can get on each others nerves, so occasionally give each other space, come down at 1pm (just 3 hours later) and he is passed out in the chair, (I hadn't heard anything), call for an ambulance paramedics wouldn't say what was wrong, eventually get a cab to hospital arrive nearly 2 hours later (25-30 mins for taxi to arrive and then another 1 hour to get to hospital, roadworks, traffic lights), when did they stop taking family with the patient?, arrive at hospital, (they explained that he had a vessel bleed that must have narrowed over time, I couldn't done anything anyway, and the amount of blood had caused so much brain damage from pressure that they and another surgeon at another hospital said it was not viable to remove that much brain and unfortunately my brother was going to die) and my brother is hooked to life support, which they (don't know the technical term) sucked partial contents from lungs, switched of machine and disconnected iv tubes, hooked him to a portable oxygen, moved from a&e to another ward, reconnected then, again around 4 hours later, hooked him to a portable oxygen, moved from there to another ward on fourth floor, where we remained until he passed, apart from when the nurses changed his bedding/cleaned him up (seemed like every 3-4hours), several times removed more from his lungs , I was allowed to be with him.

I couldn't do anything today, because apart from the cab firm at just after four am, arrived home at 4.45am (that time of day a lot quicker journey), and the hospital, everything including the office at the hospital, that deals with issuing the death certificates are closed until Monday. If you look on direct.gov it says unless it is low priority, it is quicker contact them by phone, 21st century huh. until I can contact the social I will be effectively benefitless (if that's a word), because I would imagine all his benefits, and my CA will cease (because you had to be a carer for someone in receipt of those benefits) to qualify for Carers Allowance, so I can't apply until they are sorted.

TheDaddy · 14-11-2010, 23:54

Keep an eye on his bank accounts, any loans or credit cards connected to his account will want paying and they may well try and transfer the cash to cover the debt or part of, it's legal for them to do so but funeral expenses come first no matter what the debt.

Sasha222 · 14-11-2010, 23:56

You must have got some shock when it was so sudden

DocDutch · 14-11-2010, 23:56

Geminian, sorry about the loss mate hope you are alright.

Something like this situation was on a beeb program a whilst back with Don Littlewood...it was something like Saints and Scroungers if my memory serves me right (if you can find it the episode was called Pearce and was number 10 out of 15). What the guy done was contacting the benefits office and they gave him every kind of benefit available as its an expensive occurance funerals and all attached to it.

Good luck and hope you get the help that you need now.

Halcyon · 14-11-2010, 23:57

Really sorry to hear about your loss. May he rest in peace.
I'm sure there is help available. It may be a good idea going down to your local town hall or citizens advice for information.

geminian68 · 15-11-2010, 00:23

My brother didn't/doesn't have any bank account(s) (if he wanted anything he would give the money I would pay into my account and buy whatever he wanted, always cheaper online, saved him 1000's over the years)

loans or credit card (he didn't like cc's), he was always payed by direct payment at the post office

. A letter arrived this morning dated prior to his illness 06 Nov about a winter fuel payment for week qualifying 20th-26th Sept 2010, he would be paid £250.00 in the next 3 weeks, nothing like bureaucracy nearly 2 months after the qualifying week

AndyCambs · 15-11-2010, 11:43

You'll find that Funeral directors will wait for payment.
Additionally if there is sufficient in the bank accounts, then the banks will pay for the funeral before probate is granted. In order of precedence, Funeral directors get the first payments, followed by HMRC.
If you have any credit cards or bills, then advise them immediately as they will freeze accounts. This applies to current and savings accounts. The only payments permitted into these accounts once frozen are dividend payments from shares.

Once you register the death, then the registrar will give you two statutory forms. Green form is for the funeral director and permits them to proceed, the white form is for the Dept of works and pensions, and they will also advise any other government body. You will need to pay for additional copies of certificates and the number you want will depend on the number of banks and other people requiring to see a certified copy - although the utility companies did accept a scanned copy from me. Any benefits you receive after the death into the bank accounts will be reclaimed. It's done sympathetically and they explain why they have to do this. So that's why it's in your interest to get the white form to the DWP as soon as possible to prevent any overpayment and reclaim.

You also need to write to the pensions administrators, and they will advise you on what action needs to be taken.

I found all the pensions people, and utility companies extremely sympathetic and helpful when my father passed away.

You will eventually need probate (depending on the value of the estate) and this is effectively the court's permission for you to wind up the estate. The banks won't proceed without this unless the estate value falls below the threshold.

Finally - my advice is to make a list.
What ever you put on the list there will always be more. If you want any advice then feel free to PM me. It's taken me from 10th July to now to wind up my father's estate - and the only remaining item is reclaim of tax paid for this year.

joglynne · 15-11-2010, 14:30

Just a small point but it may help in the short term. You can continue to claim Carer's allowance for 8 weeks after the date of your brothers death.

This is the link that gives you all the contact details for the Carer's Allowance Unit who you will need to contact.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_10011215

It also looks as though you should get the Winter Fuel Payment that your brother qualified for.

Quote:

A spokesman for the DWP said: “If a person has qualified for the Winter Fuel Payment during the qualifying week they will receive it for that winter, it is a standard one-off payment issued in November or December.

“If someone has died their family would receive it, if the person has already qualified.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...-families.html

Here's a link to the Winter Fuel Payments Helpline.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_180121

Hom3r · 15-11-2010, 16:38

First off, I just want to pay my condonlances to you for the loss of your brother.

Secondly, you must not blame yourself for not coming down earlier.

Caff · 15-11-2010, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by geminian68

To cut a long story short my brother sadly passed away today. On Wednesday within just three hours from him arising (dressing, make a cuppa, turn on tv) I came downstairs and found him unconscious (hemorrhage), five hours later ALS was removed (irreparable brain damage due to pressure from fluid on the brain) he somehow survived for 82 hours with just oxygen and morphine (NBM) I was permitted to be with him over this 4 day period, seeing a grown man as helpless as a baby was indescribable.

I have so many things to do this week ((pick up death certificate, register death, contact DWP (I was his carer so will no longer have any benefit), Council (he was the tenant since our parents died, can't see them letting me stay in a 3 bedroom semi, alone, even if we have lived here for the past 28 years), arrange his funeral)). So wondered if anyone knew if his unclaimed NHS occupational pension could be used for funeral expenses or has it now been lost (he was waiting until 65 to claim, so he would have a little more than just a state retirement pension) it would of payed for his funeral 3+ times, I've noted it states partners and dependants online but not whether brothers can claim assistance, help sites (even NHS's) state several weeks for reply, I recall last year when I contacted them for info required by DWP it took a couple of months to eventually get my brothers pension credit/Housing/Council Tax benefits sorted.

My condolences.

You have had such a lot of good advice here.

One foot in front of the other yes?