Wasn't sure where to post this: financial help with funerals?

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

Wasn't sure where to post this, just looking for a bit of help/ advice for my parents.

My uncle is 72, he has learning difficulties, lives in a warden-aided place around the corner from my parents. My dad is effectively his legal guardian.

Uncle went missing in March, and turned up in hospital. He's been in hospital since then, bascially the doctors now say that he's got several tumours and its "only a matter of time". He isn't going to be able to come out of hospital. Several times my dad has been called to the hospital to say goodbye, but uncle is hanging on in there at the moment, but we're all aware the time is close.

Dad is trying to get his head around things, and looking at all the pratical side of things that will need doing after uncle passes away.

In terms of funerals, is there any financial help that my parents would be able to claim for?

I know it seems a bit vulgar to be thinking about this when uncle is still in hospital etc, but its something my dad is whittling about at the moment, so I would like to be able to give him some advice to put his mind at rest.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Bereaved/DG_10018660

HappyMummy's link

Your uncle may well have been in receipt of benefits. I think as next of kin, your father could apply to the social fund for a funeral grant. Also, I believe that local authorities will advise in these cases. Far from being vulgar, imo your family is being pratical.

thank you for the link and the comments. Its been a stressful time for my dad, he's looked after his (older) brother for many years, from as long as I can remember he'd lived with my parents along with my nan, and when she passed away, he moved into the warden place, literally a street away from my parents.
I will pass the link onto my mum and dad. I wasn't sure when I read through the websites earlier whether my parents would be able to claim for a bit of help because they are not on benefits themselves (though dad is a pensioner).