SAFE Guide

SAFE GUIDE

PROVIDING YOU

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Dear Bereaved Family/Friend, Please accept our sincere condolences for your loss at this difficult time. In recent years, there has been a much greater focus on the struggles that people face during bereavement whether it be the challenge of having to deal with administration or emotive trouble and grief.

The governments NHS Loneliness Strategy is designed to show social support to those struggling with loneliness, of which many bereaved people often find themselves.

To find a close bereavement difficult is common and you are not alone. The SAFE guide has been designed to offer additional support that you may find useful, when making adjustments following a death.

Whilst we cannot endorse products or services provided within this booklet, we hope they are helpful.

The Bereavement Support Network.

The following organisations are here to help, providing services that are designed to support you now and in the future. Many of them are provided at no cost to the public.

Most have invaluable information online and all will have a dedicated helpline to help support you.

MIND 0300 123 3393 www.mind.org.uk The Mind info line offers thousands of caller’s confidential help on a range of mental health issues, however big or small the individual may feel that they are. They also provide an online supportive community where users can share their experiences and give support.

The Silver Line 0800 470 8090 www.thesilverline.org.uk The Silver Line is the confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK open every day and night of the year.

Specially trained helpline staff offer information, friendship and advice, link callers to local groups and services, offer regular befriending calls and protect and support those who are suffering abuse and neglect.

The Mix 0808 808 4994 www.themix.org.uk The Mix is here to take on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please don’t make me say it out loud thoughts that people under 25 have in order to give them the best support through our digital and phone services.

Often children and adolescents can feel alone following a loss and may be looking for a secure place they can share their thoughts. The Mix is here to help.

AbilityNet 0800 048 7642 www.abilitynet.org.uk AbilityNet supports people of any age, living with any disability or impairment to use technology to achieve their goals at home, at work and in education.

Royal Voluntary Service 0808 196 3646 www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk Older people in particular can find it difficult to settle back into home afterwards, especially if they have no-one nearby to support them. Having someone there to give a word of encouragement, make a cup of tea or check on medication can make all the difference. Support Leaving Hospital volunteers help with the jobs that make recovery a little easier, from preparing a healthy meal to walking the dog, tidying the garden or collecting shopping or prescriptions.

Re-engage www.reengage.org.uk Re-engage exists to support older people who live alone and find it hard to get out in normal times. “Call companions” is a free service for older people who live alone and feel they could do with a friendly phone call every week or two.

WAY UK www.widowedandyoung.org.uk WAY is a UK charity that offers a peer-to-peer support network for anyone who’s lost a partner before their 51st birthday – married or not, with or without children, whatever their sexual orientation.

NETMUMS www.netmums.com Netmums is an inclusive and supportive parenting community, welcoming millions of parents every month to our provide a support network and helping parents feel heard, supported.

Living alone Bereavement may leave somebody living on their own and this can undoubtedly have an effect on them, especially if the death was sudden, and so this will result in a huge adjustment. They may have spent most of their lives together and shared responsibilities, and now they may have to take on new tasks and develop new routines at the same time as coping with their loss.

Often the most important thing is to simply provide company.

They may be feeling incredibly lonely, and they may simply want someone to listen to them, to hear their thoughts and feelings, to express their emotions and come to terms with their loss. Of course, they may prefer not to talk about it, but make sure they know you are there for them. If you live away then attempt to set up a small network of friends who can maintain regular contact.

One of the biggest changes in their life could be that they need to take on tasks that their partner previously did. Helping them to stay organised and on top of things can therefore be very important.

Write a list of the things they need to do such as bills to pay, chores to carry out and appointments to make. Help them to create a schedule, and then provide them with assistance, especially in the early days of being alone where even simple tasks may be difficult.

Care workers do not always provide live-in care but it can be helpful to have a company call for a few hours each day to help with certain tasks. You do not have to be ill or infirm to use the services of a care worker, and you may simply want to arrange some extra help and companionship for them for a few months following the death of a loved one, so consider this as an option.

This can be useful to help with preparing meals, personal hygiene, collecting prescriptions, exercising pets amongst many others.

Exceptional home care visits from exceptional carers Most people in need of care would prefer to stay in their own home. Our home care visiting service is carefully tailored to suit your loved one’s needs, can help them retain their independence and stay connected to friends, relatives and pets.      

Companion & Social Care Personal Care Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care Post-Hospital Stay Care Palliative End of Life Care

To find out more about how we can help, call us on

01253 766639.

What to do if you have been left with a car After the death of a loved one, it’s important to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) as soon as possible and also to decide what you intend to do with the vehicle and transfer ownership.

A motor vehicle is a chattel and you do not have to wait until a grant of probate or letters of administration have been issued to be able to transfer a car to another owner or to sell it. You will need to deal with the car tax as this can no longer be transferred to another person, it must be cancelled and reset in the name of the new registered keeper.

If a car has to be moved before ownership is transferred, the person who drives the car must have insurance that enables them to do so. Usually the driver’s insurance will be invalid unless you have made contact with the insurance company to arrange cover.

Please be aware that any insurance policy covering the car will have lapsed with the death of the policyholder – you must notify the insurer. This leaves you without third-party cover, which means the car cannot be stored on a public road.

If you need to move the car as a temporary measure, you’ll need to think about insurance. While your own policy probably covers you to drive a car that doesn’t belong to you; most policies only provide such cover if the car is already insured.

You may wish to sell the car and can either do this yourself using websites and local press to get the maximum value or for a more straightforward process consider selling it to a reputable dealer who can come and collect the car for you. This is an attractive option as they will deal with the whole process on your behalf.

However, this is unlikely to yield the best price for the car, so you’ll need to balance the convenience offered with the money it will cost you.

Blackpool Vicarage Lane, Wellbeck Avenue, Blackpool FY4 4ES

Uncertainty in the period immediately after bereavement is certainly not a time any of us would choose to deal with pending legal and financial matters. Sadly it is an essential task sorting out the deceased's financial affairs, and this does often include their vehicle.

We can offer a swift, professional and expedient service answering enquiries from the recently bereaved asking if we are able to buy the car of a late family member.

We endeavour to make the whole process a quick, painless way to sell a car without anyone incurring additional costs or stress at such a difficult time.

Our customer service team can guide you every step of the way with regards to what needs to be done. We are able to help, take some of the strain and conclude matters quickly and with the utmost sensitivity.

Please call 01253 464 188 today to speak to one of our team.

www.evanshalshaw.com

What to do if there is an empty property Your loved one’s home is likely to be a valuable asset, both emotionally and financially, and you should ensure steps are taken to maintain its security.

The first thing to do is to ensure that all doors, windows, garages, sheds and outbuildings are locked where possible and the keys kept safely out of view. You should also turn off all the electrical appliances at the plug except any lights you may want to consider coming on by a timer system during the evening.

Once you have done that, you can turn your attention to other practicalities. For example, cancel ongoing deliveries such as newspaper, milk or groceries, and arrange a postal redirection.

It is advisable to speak with neighbours and ensure they have an emergency contact number for you.

Many insurance policies include clauses which invalidate the policy if the property is unoccupied for more than 30 days so you should contact the insurance company and ask for a copy of the policy. It may be necessary to cancel the existing policy and arrange a policy specifically tailored to the circumstances.

Do not underestimate this risk. If an escape of water occurs at the property and the insurance policy is invalid, you may be personally liable to make good the loss.

If the heating is turned off during the winter months, it’s possible that the water can freeze and potentially pipes will break. To prevent an escape of water you can drain down the heating system or review the settings to ensure a little heat comes on each day which will keep the house in a better condition should prospective buyers want to look at the house.

A professional valuation may be required for probate purposes and the agent should be able to give you a market appraisal should you wish to sell the property. Above all you should ensure there are regular visits to the property to ensure its safety and security during this difficult time.

Financial considerations following a bereavement When someone close to you dies, it can focus your mind on your own financial affairs, or change your situation so significantly that you need to update your plans. As you begin to come to terms with a bereavement and start to think about the future, you may wish to consider the following issues.

Dealing with the affairs of a loved one who has died emphasises how important it is for family and friends that there is a valid will.

If you have not already made your own will, you may decide now is the time to do so. Or you may need to update an existing will, particularly if you have lost a partner or child.

Inheritance Tax means the tax authorities can take a big slice of your estate when you die, unless you have planned carefully and it is advisable to seek the advice of an accountant of financial advisor before making plans for the future. If you have lost your partner, you may wish to review your personal pension arrangements to check whether your retirement plans are still viable, or whether you need to increase your contributions.

It’s a good idea to check your insurance policies to make sure they are right for your new circumstances. If you had life cover jointly with your deceased spouse or civil partner, talk to your provider about adjusting the cover, or shop around for a new policy. If the death has left you as the main breadwinner, you may also decide to take out extra insurance such as critical illness cover or income protection cover.

You may be entitled to bereavement benefits and if the death of a partner means you have lost your main household income, you may be entitled to financial help from the state. In England and Wales, bereavement benefits are paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to widows and widowers or to a surviving civil partner.

Any outstanding debts, such as loans or credit cards, will have to be paid off using the money in the estate - unless they held repayment protection insurance and you should take advice on this when settling the estate. If paying off the debts of a deceased relative has left you with money worries, talk to your bank for advice and support. You can also get help from a Citizens Advice Bureau or speak to a financial advisor to see if you can release money from other assets.

Haworths Financial Services Bereavement & Financial Planning • We understand this is a difficult time. We can help you make sense of your financial options.

• With over 20 years’ experience of helping clients through this difficult process we offer bespoke planning, pension & investment advice. Our adviser & finance partner Wendy Woodward is knowledgeable about Probate, Inheritance Tax, Pension, and Investing for Growth or Income, solutions to safeguard family wealth, and promote individual financial security and well-being.

Telephone 01254 945945 Email: enquiries@haworthsfs.co.uk Haworths Financial Services is an Appointed Representative of Quilter Financial Services Limited and Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA No: 494163. Haworths Financial Services Ltd. Registered office: Suite 7, The Globe Centre, St James Square, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 0RE. Registered in England and Wales, company number 5062508.

How a bereavement effects people is individual, so people will grieve uniquely. Feedback from other bereaved families has highlighted that adapting following a loss can be complex and often the simplest of roles that a partner or friend may have been responsible for in their relationship, is now theirs and this can be daunting.

In the following section of the SAFE guide, we have included services from the region who are here to help you.

Some services are provided for free and others may incur a fee. All of them are here to give guidance and support with all initial advice given at no cost to you.

This publication has been published by stopmail.co.uk which is provided by The Bereavement Support Network

Published by The Bereavement Support Network © Tel: 01253 832400