1. Did the deceased person spend any time in a nursing or care home?
If so, it is necessary to investigate whether you can reclaim care home fees paid by the deceased person or their family. Fees can date back to 2003. These amounts can be substantial. At times even running into tens of thousands of pounds.
Many people are under the mistaken belief that they have to pay for their own care fees if their assets are over £23,500. This is not always the case. If the primary need for care was a health need, then they were probably charged incorrectly.
2. Has there been an over-payment of income tax?
Quite often, there is a tax rebate due to the estate from HM Revenue & Customs. This is a result of overpaid income tax during the tax year in which the death occurred. Claim this by completing form R27, available from the Tax Office responsible for the deceased person’s tax affairs.
Please remember that the Personal Representative has a legal duty to recover any money due to the estate. This means they must reclaim care home fees when applicable and look into over-payment of income tax.
Further reading: Executor Duties | Probate Guide | Probate Forms
