Today I received two letters. One about dads pension credit and one about his attendance allowance. They are asking for the full amount of both to be paid back. The money registered in his bank account midnight Friday 30th August and he died on Sunday 1st September. All of his household bills are dated for the 1st of each month. The period that they want repaying is 2nd-8th September. He left no cash or savings. There was £31 in the bank account when he died. Any advice? Will be telephoning them on Monday.
DWP Letter
- Thread starter woowoo
- Start date
I fear that is the correct situation . . . . but . . . .
Those benefits are only available during the life of the person . . . So you will have to tell them there is no money to pay them back, explain why and tell them they will have to wait till the expatiate is sorted out. Contact everyone sending bills, cancel accounts, freeze interest etc otherwise you will incur more expenses.
There is still some form of death grant but it's means tested. You need to check that out,
Those benefits are only available during the life of the person . . . So you will have to tell them there is no money to pay them back, explain why and tell them they will have to wait till the expatiate is sorted out. Contact everyone sending bills, cancel accounts, freeze interest etc otherwise you will incur more expenses.
There is still some form of death grant but it's means tested. You need to check that out,
I assume that he did not leave a property, and that any possessions were of little value.
With such a small estate there is no need for you to apply for probate unless some organisation demands to see the grant.
Presumably the £31 went towards funeral expenses.
Get a copy of the bank statement showing that all the household bills were paid (by direct debit?) immediately following his death using the advance DWP payments made just before his death. Explain that there is no money in dad's estate to pay them.
You do not have to pay them from your funds, all you are doing is administering your deceased father's estate.
With such a small estate there is no need for you to apply for probate unless some organisation demands to see the grant.
Presumably the £31 went towards funeral expenses.
Get a copy of the bank statement showing that all the household bills were paid (by direct debit?) immediately following his death using the advance DWP payments made just before his death. Explain that there is no money in dad's estate to pay them.
You do not have to pay them from your funds, all you are doing is administering your deceased father's estate.
There is a house which I have lived in with him (and mum when she was alive) for 35 years. Dad and I have a joint bank account. I have now taken over all the bills. I do need probate as need the letter of probate to change the name on the deeds. The money in the bank just paid bills. I haven't paid for his funeral yet as I haven't got any money to do so. In awaiting a decision from the dwp in a funeral payment.
I am so sorry for your loss and the thought of having to deal with all this is just not fair. I hope you get the grant sorted soon. You really don't need this at this time.
Thoughts are with you and hugs
Thoughts are with you and hugs
The house was soley in dads name so definitely need probate and then land registry. I will update tomorrow once I have spoken to DWP about the letters. I've gone back through the bank account and can show that the money paid dads household bills for August. I've also got the probate forms to show that dad didn't leave any cash or savings. Wish me luck!
I think they generally will accept a payment schedule.
However, you will have to pay it. Your father might not have left any liquid assets (such as cash or savings) but if he owned even a part share in the house you are living in, that is an asset.
I'm sorry, but do push for a payment plan.
However, you will have to pay it. Your father might not have left any liquid assets (such as cash or savings) but if he owned even a part share in the house you are living in, that is an asset.
I'm sorry, but do push for a payment plan.
Have you checked that you have obtained any benefits you can claim subsequent to your father's death?
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-adviser
or an appointment at your local Citizens Advice Bureau
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-adviser
or an appointment at your local Citizens Advice Bureau
On your probate form you declare the full value of your dad's estate. In this case the vslue of the house , lets say £150,000 plus £31 in the bank. He received lets say £200 from the DWP which is an advance payment and has to be refunded. In addition, there is the cost of the funeral, lets say, £3000. As your dad's estate is so large you will not get a funeral payment. They may pay the undertaker then put a claim against his estate. There are rules about the order that debts have to be paid when someone dies and you are an executor of the estate. Total of his estate is £150,031 less debts of £3200, means value of the estate is £146, 831 (less than the value of the house).
You have 2 options. Sell the house or pay off the debts. Any creditors are entitled to payment FIRST and are not obliged to take payment in increments, especially when there is value in the estate. You may need to take out a bank loan in order to pay people off in full. If you say you have no money, are you on benefits? How will you be able to afford the running costs of a home if you're skint? Another option may be to release some of the equity in the house. You say they can't get blood out of a stone, but they can. The house cannot transfer to you until all the debts are cleared.
Finally, have you searched to see if there are any insurance policies that you didn't know about? Some might be paid up for example?
Fiona
You have 2 options. Sell the house or pay off the debts. Any creditors are entitled to payment FIRST and are not obliged to take payment in increments, especially when there is value in the estate. You may need to take out a bank loan in order to pay people off in full. If you say you have no money, are you on benefits? How will you be able to afford the running costs of a home if you're skint? Another option may be to release some of the equity in the house. You say they can't get blood out of a stone, but they can. The house cannot transfer to you until all the debts are cleared.
Finally, have you searched to see if there are any insurance policies that you didn't know about? Some might be paid up for example?
Fiona
No insurance policies. Dads pension paid our bills and my Carers allowance bought our food. I AM NOT SELLING THE HOUSE. I have a job but no payday until nov 25th as got to work a month in hand. I have spoken to the companies we have bills with and they have all agrees to defer payment until i get paid. The funeral payment has been granted based on my income - not dads estate. The funeral was done via a family friend who is happy to receive monthly payments from me so that will not be coming from dads 'estate' I can't release equity from the house as it isn't in my name yet. Not an option. I can't get a bank loan as been a Carer for 17 years and have no credit history. As I have said before, I am happy to pay it, but can't afford it all in one go.
I hope you have this persons name so you can refer to it if needed. Glad for you about that. One less worry
Jeannette
Jeannette
