The Video Ref wrote:
As is so often the case when people telephone radio phone-ins, I suspect there is more to it than that.
I am not sure what happens with something held on trust when the beneficiary dies. Does it automatically go to their estate? Can a child even have legal title to anything?
Sadly you know I don't think there would be, its a matter of fact that the vast majority of parents simply don't believe that their children will die and don't insure them - they will insure themselves to make sure their spouse and children are ok, but they don't insure their children alone, I never did, never crossed my mind to do so and I don't ever recall an insurance policy aimed at protecting parents from the cost of a childs funeral.
All of which means that when a child does die the funeral costs are probably the second biggest shock that the parent gets - I did a small bit of fund raising a couple of years ago for a friend of a friend who's young boy had died in his sleep one night, they were helped out by family to pay for the funeral but the one thing that most parents of deceased children want is a memorial stone and they are horrendously priced and usually out of reach cost-wise - thats why this friend of a friend set up the Joseph Salmon Trust to help parents of deceased children immediately after their bereavement, and its been met with a huge demand even in their small area of operation.
So am I surprised that there is very little help for parents at that awful time in their lives - no.
Am I surprised that they take into account the Child Trust Fund when assessing for a funeral grant - 12 months ago I would have been appalled, but now, nothing surprises me at all.