Dear Harry: My father bought a life-insurance policy for $100,000 back in 2002. A few months later, he was diagnosed with leukemia. He died a few months ago, and my mother submitted a claim for the $100,000. The person she spoke with at the company said she would have her money within five days of submitting his death certificate. She sent a copy immediately. After about two weeks passed, she contacted the company again and was told that they had to complete an investigation of some sort (they did not specify). She has called several times since then and gotten the same answer. I don't have any idea what's holding up the payment which she sorely needs. Short of getting a lawyer to handle this, is there anything that we can do?

What Harry says: It's extremely rare for an insurance company to question a death claim. Those toads should at least tell you what the problem is. Life-insurance companies generally have two years from the date of policy issuance to question the representations made by the party being insured. That "contestable period" period is now long gone, and it would be very unusual for a company to raise questions at the time of death. Perhaps they think the leukemia was known earlier, but they no longer can question that. Contact the Insurance Department at 215-560-2630. At the very least, they will find out why the investigation is taking place.

Write Harry Gross c/o the Daily News, 400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130. Harry urges all his readers to give blood - contact the American Red Cross at 800-GIVE LIFE.