A terminally ill woman was warned by the DWP that she would have her benefits cut and might even be committing an offence if she paid for her funeral in advance, campaigning journalist John Pring has revealed.{jcomments on}
According to Pring, who runs the Disability News Service, Sue Smith wanted to spend a £3,700 insurance cheque on paying for her funeral, as she has been given only 12-18 months to live.
But the DWP warned her that doing so would amount to deliberate deprivation of capital and would result in loss of benefit and possible prosecution.
It was only after Pring contacted the DWP that they backed down.
