Plea to cut red tape anguish of bereaved

CAMPAIGNERS have urged firms to stop swamping relatives with red tape as they grieve for their loved ones.

They are supported by Tory MP George Freeman, who says bereaved relatives should be protected from “painful intrusion”.

One of his constituents, great-grandfather Graham Farrar, 82, said he was driven to despair by the bureaucracy after his wife Janice died last month.

Her pension provider asked him to fill out an eight-page small claims discharge declaration and return it with a certified copy of her will and death certificate so he could receive a final month’s payment of £116.95.

Graham decided not to bother after discovering it would cost him £280 plus VAT for his solicitor, who is working from home, to send a staff member to his office to copy the will.

The pensioner from Attleborough, Norfolk, has called for a one-stop shop system for financial services to remove the excruciating bureaucracy.

Mid Norfolk MP Mr Freeman said: “Grieving widows and widowers shouldn’t be bombarded with bureaucratic paperwork or unfair charges.

“Bereavement should be a moment we respect and protect vulnerable people from often painful intrusion.”

Last month TV journalist John Stapleton, 74, said he “almost had a meltdown” over the mountain of red tape following the death of his wife,

Watchdog presenter Lynn Faulds Wood. He has urged private companies to adopt the Government’s Tell Us Once system which notifies its departments when a death is registered.

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, called for firms to have compassion, saying: “At any time losing a loved one is a horrible experience which knocks most of us sideways.

“But it is all the more difficult during this pandemic and the lockdown.

“People are often in shock, dealing with a wide range of emotions and busy informing family and friends.

“There are practical imperatives too like registering the death and organising a funeral.

“All firms need to show compassion, be flexible around the needs of their customers and ensure their processes are as simple and straightforward as possible.”

● You can call Age UK on 0800 169 65 65 or visit ageuk.org.uk if you need advice about dealing with the death of a loved one.