Can the deceased pastor's wife benefit financially from the church?

by Concerned Member
(Cleveland Ohio)

Our pastor recently passed away and the church voted to give his wife a portion of his salary for 3 months plus pay her long-term care insurance for 2017.

All total it's about $4,000. Per IRS rules it looks like it is not allowable however the leadership at church wants this amount paid out to her.

Is this allowed and if it is under what circumstances?

We do have a benevolent fund but based on IRS' rules you have to prove need. How do we prove need? The church provided adequately for our pastor; life insurance retirement and long term care insurance.

This has become contentious as the treasurer is being asked to write this check against her wishes.

Thank you in advance for your answer.

3Comments

Can the deceased pastor's wife benefit financially from the church?

AAnonymous

Can the deceased pastor's wife benefit financially from the church?

1. You must report expense payments paid out to individuals who are receiving them as income/support payments.

2. You will issue the widow a 1099 MISC for other income.

HOPEFULLY the board/elders have sat with her and discussed her tax responsibility for the income support recieved.

I need to know this also!

AAnonymous

This is our exact same situation. We want to support his widow for a couple of months. I can't do that out of Benevolence either. I don't know how to go about this, other than hiring her.

Widow

AAnonymous

1 Timothy 5 tells how the widow is supposed to be treated. If she has no family member, the church is responsible for her!
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