Brother’s wife has passed away suddenly

[Mumblesoldbloke]

Hi All

My brother’s wife died yesterday, he’s hopeless with money and finance, I was wondering if there is any benefits he could get, they lived hand to mouth partly because she would lend money to anyone who asked and rarely was it refunded.

Any ideas of how to help him would be really appreciated

Thanks

Firstly I'm sorry for your loss. Your brother should be able to get Bereavement support allowance which is a lump sum and monthly payments for a period of time. If they were on Benefits before she dies then he may also be entitled to a DWP funeral grant. Did either of them work or were they already on benefits?

My brother works and earns approx £22000 pa, his wife was on disability I think at the highest rate.

Thank you for your reply

Sorry he won't qualify for the funeral grant then with those earnings. He should be able to get the Bereavement support allowance. It will be quite a loss of household income if she was on the highest rates of DLA or PIP.He should also apply for the single person council tax discount although if his wife was on disability benefits they may already have been getting a reduction anyway. He needs to let the council know she has passed away and obviously the DWP also. Sorry for what you are going through.

Sorry for your loss. Do they have children? A mortgage to pay? If debts, the StepChange advice is good I believe.

Yes they have a 21 yo in uni but living at home and an 11 yo , a mortgage and very little savings, probably £500.

Some of her close “friends “ owe her thousands.

Hmmm the close friends should be told it's time to repay, he needs it.

He may also be able to get some tax credits or Universal credit, it wouldn't be much on his wage but he may get something if he isn't already.