Universal Credit Mix-up Stops Man Claiming His Wifes Ashes

UNIVERSAL CREDIT - A husband Robert Shade, whose wife Carole-Anne died of cancer has not been allowed to collect her ashes due to a mix-up over his benefit payments.

Mr. Shade, who is a manager of a Chaddesden community charity – his wife died on November 9, 2018, as he was in the process of being moved onto Universal Credit, and he says an anomaly in the system meant authorities mistakenly believed he did not appear to be on any benefits at all, so he was denied the funeral costs he needed.

Mr. Shade was able to pay around half of the funeral bills with money his wife had left behind, but he still has £1,895.60 to pay.

And because he has been unable to scrape the money together, a debt agency says they will not hand over his wife's ashes until the balance is settled.

Mr. Shade has two sons, aged 20 and nine, who both have learning difficulties and other needs.

Image: Mrs Shade, a former assistant at a care home, battled a brain tumour for 17 years (Image: Shade family).

45-year-old wife Carole-Anne was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2001 and was even told she could not have a second child. She beat the odds, living for another 17 years and giving birth to another boy and worked as a care assistant, although she could not work much of her life due to her illness.

Mr. Shade received a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions telling him he did not qualify for help with funeral costs because, technically, he was not on benefits at the time, though there was information on how to appeal.

A Gofundme crowd-funding appeal has been set up. you can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/carol-shade-funeral-cost-for-family

A DWP spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. We are currently reviewing Mr. Shade’s claim for a funeral payment and we will be in contact with him shortly.

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