B-142932, JUL. 6, 1960
Highlights
WAS ISSUED TO YOU FOR YOUR FATHER MR. THE CHECK WAS CANCELLED AND WHEN YOU MADE CLAIM YOU WERE PAID $107 AS THE DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED. YOU WERE ADVISED THAT $51 OF THE AMOUNT REMAINING WAS BEING WITHHELD PENDING A CLAIM BY CARRIE EDMONDS FOR THE AMOUNT REMAINING DUE HER FOR PAYING THE BURIAL EXPENSE OF THE DECEASED AND THAT $107 WAS BEING WITHHELD PENDING RECEIPT OF A CLAIM FROM THE DECEDENT'S SON. WE EXPLAINED THAT THE RECORD BEFORE OUR OFFICE INCLUDED A RECEIPTED BILL OF THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR WHICH SHOWS THAT THE FUNERAL EXPENSES OF THE DECEASED WERE PAID IN FULL BY CARRIER EDMONDS AND THAT FUNERAL EXPENSES UNDER THE VIRGINIA LAW TAKES PRECEDENCE. YOU PROTEST OUR WITHHOLDING OF THE $51 FOR CARRIE EDMONDS AS IT IS YOUR CONTENTION THAT THIS AMOUNT SHOULD BE PAID TO YOU AS YOU SUPPORTED AND CARED FOR YOUR FATHER DURING HIS LAST ILLNESS.
B-142932, JUL. 6, 1960
TO MRS. PAULINE BECKETT:
ON JUNE 14, 1960, YOU WROTE TO THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE PROTESTING THE PREVIOUS ACTIONS OF OUR OFFICE IN DISALLOWING YOUR CLAIM FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PROCEEDS OF SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK NO. 26,186,295 DATED NOVEMBER 23, 1959. THIS CHECK, AMOUNTING TO $265, WAS ISSUED TO YOU FOR YOUR FATHER MR. WELBERT BRADFORD, NOW DECEASED.
THE CHECK WAS CANCELLED AND WHEN YOU MADE CLAIM YOU WERE PAID $107 AS THE DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED. YOU WERE ADVISED THAT $51 OF THE AMOUNT REMAINING WAS BEING WITHHELD PENDING A CLAIM BY CARRIE EDMONDS FOR THE AMOUNT REMAINING DUE HER FOR PAYING THE BURIAL EXPENSE OF THE DECEASED AND THAT $107 WAS BEING WITHHELD PENDING RECEIPT OF A CLAIM FROM THE DECEDENT'S SON, AMBROSE BRADFORD.
IN OUR DECISION TO YOU, B-142932, JUNE 9, 1960, WE EXPLAINED THAT THE RECORD BEFORE OUR OFFICE INCLUDED A RECEIPTED BILL OF THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR WHICH SHOWS THAT THE FUNERAL EXPENSES OF THE DECEASED WERE PAID IN FULL BY CARRIER EDMONDS AND THAT FUNERAL EXPENSES UNDER THE VIRGINIA LAW TAKES PRECEDENCE. IN YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 14, YOU PROTEST OUR WITHHOLDING OF THE $51 FOR CARRIE EDMONDS AS IT IS YOUR CONTENTION THAT THIS AMOUNT SHOULD BE PAID TO YOU AS YOU SUPPORTED AND CARED FOR YOUR FATHER DURING HIS LAST ILLNESS. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE FAILED TO PRESENT ACCEPTABLE EVIDENCE WHICH WILL REFUTE THE RECEIPTED BILL FOR THE FUNERAL EXPENSES. WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO FOLLOW THE APPLICABLE VIRGINIA LAW UNDER WHICH FUNERAL EXPENSES ARE A PREFERRED CLAIM.
ACCORDINGLY, OUR PREVIOUS ACTIONS IN THE MATTER ARE SUSTAINED AND YOUR CLAIM IS AGAIN DENIED.