Hi. I was bereaved 5 months ago (lost my lovely mum). She paid all the bills in the house (council tax, gas, electric, water etc). I now have to pay all these and only get Universal Credit - nowhere near enough to pay bills. Bank refused to help me today and I am already 2 months behind on council tax, received a gas bill for over a grand which I just can’t pay. I felt pressured into making an extra payment over the phone a few days ago to the water company. Have other people inherited debts and been able to get through a dark tunnel? I have PTSD due to the bereavement and the debt situation is making it worse. I am in a really dark place at the moment. Advice on how to get through the debt situation gratefully appreciated. I am signed off sick until December so can’t look for a job at the moment
Hi Roman111,
Just wanted to reach out to you as your post is heartbreaking.
I have no idea what help is available bro you but I am sure someone will post soon who has some knowledge or ideas about what you can do.
Thinking of you
Deborah
Thank you seychelles
Hi Roman 111
You could make an appointment at your local Citizens Advice, they can help you with debts, and budgeting.
Sorry that you are in this awful position at a time when you will be missing your mum. Did your mum have any life insurance policies?
No she didn’t have any policies. She has assets and the will money will come through but only when probate has been completed. I did tell the bank that I would only need a temporary overdraft increase until the will money comes through but they do everything on a computer system and don’t do compassion
Hello @Roman111,
I’m so sorry about your mum and the situation you find yourself in. No-one should have to struggle financially after a bereavement.
I just wanted to share our resource on staying safe and warm after a bereavement. It has lots of info on managing bills and where to get help and support if you need to.
Keep reaching out and take care,
Alex
Goodness me. That is so helpful. My heating is currently broken and I can’t afford to fix it due to my low income but I will certainly be using your information guide to help me. Thank you very much.
Hi, so sorry to read this, there must be so many like us, I now don’t have my Mum’s money coming in and I am only getting £400.14 a month to run the house, I live by myself, as it was just Mum & me, once my Dad passed away, I am off sick as well, but I’m not getting peace from the jobcentre, this is my 5th week off sick with med 3, now I have to fill “Universal Credit Capability for Work” form out, it is just adding to my stress, I did apply for Council tax reduction, but it’s more than what my Mum paid because she was on pension credit, I am sorry I am not being of a help to you, but just letting you know your not on your own and i think there should be a better system for when things like this happen, I was on carers allowance for 4 years, not that it was much, but £565, is better than £400.14 and my Mum paid the bills too, hope you manage to get someone to help you, but I feel like I am hitting rock bottom fast, because we are grieving as well, I have never felt so lonely and lost 
Thank you Lainy 1969. Last night I hit a real low and looked up the Samaritans. Though I didn’t actually ring them, I found some useful information on both their site, Cruse and Age UK. I downloaded the fact sheets and have been reading them today. I need to contact the council for reduced council tax due to low income (I was told they have to help you if you are in financial distress). Also I am going to try National DebtLine or StepChange debt agency for help. I hope you find some of this useful and we both now know we are not alone. The bank simply used an algorithm to decide I am not eligible for an overdraft extension even though they knew it would only be until the will money comes through. It is sad to think these organisations don’t use compassion as much as they should; if at all. I too have just filled out the Work Capability Assessment and am waiting to hear back. I wish you all the best. Kind Regards, Roman111
Hi Roman111.
So glad you have contacted a few agencies sto help you.
Hopefully something can be sorted
Thinking of you all
Deborah
Glad you didn’t need to phone Samaritans, it takes ages for will to get sorted, I’m still waiting, was you okay filling in the Work Capacity form?? I thought it was a bit early to send it out, in early stages of grief, this is only my first week of my second sick line, they could have at least waited for 3 months, I have only looked at, I haven’t filled it out yet, it stressed me out when i got it in the post, I have never been off sick on Universal Credit 
Hi again Lainy 1969. I had the Work Capability sent to me within the first month of being off sick; may be wrong but I think sending in a fit note triggers it (not 100% sure on that one). In my case it was different as I am physically disabled too but I know the mental health aspect doesn’t start til near the end of the form. You can download a UC50 form on the internet and put your thoughts in the boxes - that will help you when you come to do the real thing. I coped by doing some bits each day but was mindful of the date to return it by. I also took screenshots on my phone of the relevant pages so that when the review takes place (either by phone or in person) I can look back on them to make sure I put my point of view across as asserting myself is not a strong point of mine and I don’t want to miss anything vital. If it all goes pair shaped you can ask for a mandatory re-consideration. I did this once and it worked. My job coach suggested getting proof of posting when you return the Work Capability Assessment then they can’t say you never sent it back. Very good advice. Good luck
Thanks for that advice, I will go and download that form just now 
I’m so sorry for your loss, I lost my mum 2 years ago next week, you won’t ever get over the loss but you will in time learn to accept your loss, but it will take time and that’s what you need to give yourself time, you may benefit from grief counselling counselling I’m in a much better position than I was before I was in a dark hole for a long long time but I’m gradually accepting my mum has gone and I’m doing good. Where the bills in your mum’s name I’m pretty sure if your mum has money in the bank then these bills can be paid out of it, speak to the citizens advice about it, the council will help if your on any type of benefits I get a reduction as I’m on UC and I can know longer work, I hope you find the help you need soon as I know all too well what debt can do to you, don’t be pressured by these companies to pay, speak to the financial dept of each company and explain your situation.
Thank you Lisa_L51. Yes I am going to go for grief counselling. I have had so many bad dreams lately (one or two each night) mainly about death but also something from a previous trauma 20 years ago came in a dream the other night and made me realise just how bereavement has messed with my brain and counselling should help me a lot. Glad it is working for you. Although the bills were in mum’s name, the Solicitors will only pay for bills out of her estate before death not after (that’s what she told me). I am looking into the Council - there is a concession application form which helps people with low income. My nephew has just been awarded it though he is from a different Borough to me. Take care. Kind Regards, Roman111
Yeah I had 12 weeks of 1 to 1 councilling I had so much to unravel in my head I was having nightmares flashbacks also brought up a lot of stuff in my past my councillor helped me unravel the whole lot I was carrying a lot on my shoulders and each time I went to see her the weight on my shoulders became lighter, I used to look in the mirror and see this person staring back and didn’t recognise her, I look in the mirror now and I see my self it’s taken me just on 2 years to start navigating life around my loss, I really hope you get the help you need, the people on here help me so much keep reaching out there is always someone to talk too, take care.