A family mourning the death of a beloved wife say they are unable to bury her after they were refused a funeral grant by the DWP. Susan Morton, 65, sadly passed away after developing a blood clot in her right leg and exhibiting ‘stroke-like’ symptoms at home.
Her family say the day that she was rushed to hospital, the fire brigade had to force their way into her home in Fallowfield before she was transferred to Salford Royal hospital. Despite receiving some treatment, Susan sadly passed away on January 17 surrounded by her loved ones.
According to her ex-husband, Thomas Penman, 68, Susan had no life insurance and only just received her pension so the family were unable to pay for the funeral costs. This led to two of her sons applying for a funeral grant, looking for £3,100 from the DWP’s Social Fund.
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A funeral had been scheduled for Tuesday, February 18. However, because the grant was rejected, her funeral scheduled for February 18 was unable to go ahead and the mother-of-six’s body remains at a funeral home.
Speaking to the M.E.N., Thomas, who is wheelchair bound, said: “She’s been lying in a funeral home for a month now. That’s terrible.
“It’s been sad for everybody, people booked days off work for this funeral. It’s ripped us apart and I’ve never seen my sons so upset.
“She was absolutely brilliant and had time for everyone, a brilliant woman and she can’t be put to rest, it’s awful.”
The family say the claims were rejected on the basis that one of Susan’s sons, Darren Penman, was working at the time of the application and is not estranged, so was deemed able to take responsibility for the funeral costs. But Darren says he was only working three days a week at the time and was not being paid enough to cover the costs, and is no longer working.
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Speaking to the M.E.N., Darren said: “Both of my brothers applied for the funeral grant and they claim universal credit. I’ve left my job now I’m in receipt of universal credit and they’ve still not got back to us with any decision.
“But they don’t know if I was estranged or not, they are just assuming. I wasn’t living with her and I rarely saw her. I was only working three days a week and only making about £140 a week and obviously have bills to pay out of it. I just feel like the DWP are dragging this out.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “The death of someone close is very distressing and our sincere condolences are with Susan Morton’s family.
“The Funeral Expenses Payment scheme is targeted at those on qualifying benefits to make sure that the most vulnerable are supported with these costs. Individuals in receipt of income-related benefits may also be eligible to apply for a loan which can be used towards funeral costs.”
The funeral home has been approached for comment.
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