Author Archives: patrick

Power of attorney refund scheme launched

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A refund scheme for those who have been overcharged for their power of attorney fees was launched on the 1st February 2018.

In an announcement made by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the refunds are being offered to those who may have been charged more than was necessary when they applied to register for powers of attorney between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2017.

According to the MoJ, the process to register for enduring powers of attorney became more efficient during this period and as a result, operating costs for the Office of the Public Guardian came down. However, the fee charged for the application did not reduce in line with this. The fee was subsequently lowered by the MoJ, a change which came into effect 1 April 2017.

In an announcement made by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the refunds are being offered to those who may have been charged more than was necessary when they applied to register for powers of attorney between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2017.

Plans to repay those who were overcharged were originally announced in July last year. At the time, the expected total was around the £89 million mark.

According to the MoJ, the process to register for enduring powers of attorney became more efficient during this period and as a result, operating costs for the Office of the Public Guardian came down. However, the fee charged for the application did not reduce in line with this. The fee was subsequently lowered by the MoJ, a change which came into effect 1 April 2017.

Now, they have launched a refund scheme for those who paid the higher fee during the qualifying period.

Claims for full and partial refunds can be made by the donor via an online service, with only one form needing to be completed for each.

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the number of applications eligible for the refund is around 1.7 million.

A number of regulatory organisations and professionals from within the sector have shared their thoughts on the launch of the refund scheme.

“We are delighted that the Ministry of Justice has launched a refund scheme to reimburse customers for the overcharging of registration fees of Powers of Attorney, which extends back to 1st April 2013.  This will affect customers who registered documents between 1st April 2013 to 31st March 2017, who will now have to seek a partial refund of the fees that they paid.

 We encourage anyone who has been overcharged in the last four years to apply for their partial refund, by online application or a telephone call, to the OPG.”

For those who believe they are eligible, claims can be made here: www.claim-power-of-attorney-refund.service.gov.uk

Govt sets out new rules on Funeral Expenses Payments

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The Government sets out new rules on Funeral Expenses Payments

The government has announced several changes to the eligibility conditions relating to the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme that will take effect from 2 April.

The scheme allows people on a low income and in need of help to pay for a funeral to claim a Funeral Expenses Payment, which must be paid back to the government if the claimant receives money from the deceased’s estate.

Under the changes, claimants will be able to receive contributions from charities, relatives or friends without them being deducted from the overall sum payable towards funeral costs.

Additionally, from April, claimants can make an application within six months of the funeral date for help with funeral costs instead of the current three months. They will also have the option of submitting any evidence needed in support of their claim electronically.

Royal London funeral cost expert Louise Eaton-Terry said the changes were welcome, but missed the mark on the “biggest issue” facing bereaved families.

“It’s good to see small changes being made to the Funeral Payment process but the government has ignored the biggest issue,” she said. “Funeral costs continue to increase above inflation year on year, with our research showing that bereaved families who qualify for the fund face a shortfall of more than £2,000 to cover the cost of a funeral.

“While these reforms are a step in the right direction, they fail to address the value of the award, and we want the government to go further and commit to increasing the social fund funeral expenses payment.”

According to Royal London, the average cost of a funeral in the UK is £3,784 – an increase of 3% from 2016, and those who struggle to pay funeral costs take on an average debt of £1,680.

Care Home Fees Planning

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People should plan for care costs – Hunt

Long-term care costs in old age will be capped at £75,000 as part of a £1 billion initiative, health secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced.

He heralded the reforms as “historic”, pointing out they will save thousands of people from having to sell their family homes to pay for care.

However, campaigners have stressed that the cap, which will be funded by extending inheritance tax, is too high given that it is double the £35,000 recommended by the Dilnot Commission in 2011.

Meanwhile, thousands more people will face inheritance tax payments because of a three-year extension of the freeze in the £325,000 threshold – £650,000 for couples – at which it kicks in at 40%.

Mr Hunt also revealed that the threshold to supply means-tested Government support for care bills will rise from £23,250 to £123,000.

The measures, which will be introduced as part of the Care and Support Bill that from 2017, will benefit around 100,000 people every year who do not currently receive support, Mr Hunt added.

It is hoped that with guarantees over the maximum bill, will give people the chance to buy insurance that protects against possible care costs.

Mr Hunt also revealed that there will be a lower cap introduced for people who have care needs before they reach retirement age, while people with needs when they turn 18 will be entitled to free care.

He told MPs that people in Britain need to start thinking about social care costs in the same way they plan for their pensions.

Mr Hunt stressed that this is something UK Governments have left unchecked for too long.

“Whilst there are many other things that need to be done to prepare for an ageing population, these reforms do herald a historic change in the way that care and support is funded in this country,” he added.

Free Will Document Storage

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Your original Will is your only Will and therefore needs to be kept safely.

If there is one place you sholud never ever keep your original will is at home.If anything should happen to you in a house fire and your will went up in smoke with you or just smoke damaged then you haven’t got a valid.

I f your will is damaged in anyway which could cast doubts as to the contents of the will or raise questions to why the damage was inflicted, then the courts could throw the will out as being invalid

You need to keep your will in a place thats nice safe and secure,however that place should not be so nice and safe and secure that no one can find it when its needed!

As Will writers we use a National Will Safe Document Storage facility that is an unique ,national and central facility for wills that overcomes all of the problems of safely caring for important legal documents for a small ” one off” Fee of £40.00

Your will is kept in a waterproof wallet in a specialist document archive facility.

While it is stored, it is fully insured so that if it is lost or damaged while you are alive,then it will be replaced for you ,Free of charge.

If your will is lost or damaged after your death,or its loss or damage only comes to light after your seath, then your Executors are insured ( for up to £2million) to compensate your estate and its beneficiaries for any losses that they incur as a result of there being no legally valid will.

You can access your document at any time – free of charge.The document can be returned to us or your will writer for updating or directly to you using an insured delivery service.

When your Executors need to access the documents,once they have provided a death certificate and proof of their identity, your documents will be returned to them- free of charge

You will be provided with plastic identity cards for you and your Executors with your name and a unique Identity Number and contact telephone

When you or your Executors need to access the Will, simply telephone the contact number and we will arrange the return of your will to a convenient address

The location of your documents will be registered Free of Charge on the National Will Register

To Summarise ■Wills stored in Waterproof wallets ■Wills stored in a specialist document archive ■Wills fully insured ■Wills returned to you or your Will writer-Free of Charge ■Will returned to your Executors when needed Free of Charge ■Location of Wills recorded on the National Will Register

Current Price of £40.00 ( One off Cost”) FREE for the month of January 2013

Please contact 08450 526 840

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While it is stored, it is fully insured so thast if it is lost or damaged while you are alive,then it will be replaced for you ,Free of charge.

If your will is lost or damaged after your death,or its loss or damage only comes to light after your seath, then your Executors are insured ( for up to £2million) to compensate your estate and its beneficiaries for any losses that they incur as a result of there being no legally valid will.

You can access your document at any time – free of charge.The document can be returned to us or your will writer for updating or directly to you using an insured delivery service.

When your Executors need to access the documents,once they have provided a death certificate and proof of their identity, your documents will be returned to them- free of charge

You will be provided with plastic identity cards for you and your Executors with your name and a unique Identity Number and contact telephone

When you or your Executors need to access the Will, simply telephone the contact number and we will arrange the return of your will to a convenient address

The location of your documents will be registered Free of Charge on the National Will Register

To Summarise ■Wills stored in Waterproof wallets ■Wills stored in a specialist document archive ■Wills fully insured ■Wills returned to you or your Will writer-Free of Charge ■Will returned to your Executors when needed Free of Charge ■Location of Wills recorded on the National Will Register

Current Price of £40.00 ( One off Cost”) FREE for the month of January 2013

Please contact 08450 526 840