What Are The Implications Of Asked To Be Next Of Kin

[gordiescotland1]

Hi there
One of my friends I have only known for 9 months is very unwell and it is terminal and is having to go into hospital for some kind of treatment I suspect pallative care rather than curing condition advanced lung cancer spread to liver and spine. He had been ill for sometime and didnt get help until this week. I have been trying to help him he is in extreme poverty benefits sanctioned no income my friends and I have been giving him food clothes and other things practical. It is very sad he has no living relatives an only child, parents are dead and his wife died 2 years ago, she has a son but they have not spoken for years due to a major fall out He has asked me to be his next of kin as he has to give the hospital one. I am quite happy to do this but I dont know the implications of becoming a next of kin legally, would I have to make decisions?

[murraymints]

you may well be asked to make difficult decisions regarding treatment..speak to hospital welfare officer regarding his benefits status..they will help...

[waterboatman]

Follow minty's advice. They are well used to dealing with such cases.

[Peter Pedant]

None
say yes

othe than that you can bea good friend without status
he needs his benefits sorting out
sanctioned is always a bad thing to hear ....

it is what he thinks next of kin does so ask him
and make sure you know what to do when he is in hospital
( visit house keep an eye on it and so on - or whether or not he wants you to have the key )

he will probably think you are inheritor as nok
but you arent and you are gonna have to ask him where he wants his money to go at some time later .... not now
if it NOT to the children of his brothers and sisters then he needs a simple will

if as you say he is terminal from cancer
then there are no difficult decisions to make as things take their course

[Prudie]

Next of kin has no legal bearing I don't think and does not give anyone power of attorney or official decision making ability, it's just someone nominated as point of conatct. I'd agree with above, ask the hospital for advice.

[wolf63]

Gordie,

Is there any chance that this person may be lying to you and that they are scamming you - for financial gain.

You are a good person and a trusting person and it is these traits that may make you a target for such people.

If I am wrong then I apologise for upsetting you - that is not my intention.

[gordiescotland1]

He is in a dire position his house is full of rubbish he is a chronic hoarder and has bad depression. He was on jobseekers allowance and not well enough to do the courses they recommended so he applied for ESA and was turned down despite doctors reports he had a rather dubious assessment his jobseekers was then sanctioned for a year leaving him no money at all he has been living off friends I have tried to get him to CAB for help but he wont go I dont know if his GP knows the state that he is in. He is very reluctant to go into hospital but cant live in the state he is in on his own. A lot of people have tried to help him. He seems to lost the ability to cope since his wife died it is very sad. I am happy to be a point of contact if and when he agrees to go in I just am not in a financial position to organise a funeral when he dies. It is very sad that in 2017 people are living in extreme poverty due to benefit sanctions.

[hc4361]

You will not be asked to organise or pay for his funeral. The state will arrange and pay for a basic but respectful cremation.

[Mamyalynne]

If he has a terminal diagnosis DWP need to know that as soon as possible.

[Smowball]

How can they stop all his money if he has a terminal illness?? That can't be right surely

[Mamyalynne]

It's possible he hasn't informed them.