Funeral costs

[RubyRedBoots]

What happens when someone dies and they don't have any life insurance or savings? A family I know have just lost someone suddenly and I want to help once they've had time to absorb the news. They have no idea what to do. Coroner is phoning them tomorrow. They don't have the money to pay either.

if the deceased had no assets and no one else could pay even for a direct cremation which cost around £1500 if not cheaper then I believe the council would take charge and they’d be given a simple blessing and cremation. Family/others are not able to attend. Used to be called a paupers funeral

www.funeralguide.co.uk/help-resources/arranging-a-funeral/what-is-a-paupers-funeral-public-health-funerals-explained

I was I bit wrong the link if it works takes you to a general info page

Thanks. I’ll take a look.

There is also a funeral benefit you can apply for
www.gov.uk/funeral-payments

Could family club together to get £1500 for direct funeral? Maybe sell deceased persons belongings to put towards funeral. Maybe apply for grant and put rest on credit card. Paupers funerals are really awful. I think they are cremated with no service, no flowers or music and no one given ashes. What a terrible send off.

If the person has no close relatives who can pay and they are taking repsonsibility for the funeral and can't pay they can apply for a DWP funeral grant but it rarely cover the whole cost. The person taking responsibility has to be on a qualifying benefit like Universal credit or Pension credit and they will explore whether siblings etc could pay.

The problem I have found when helping people to apply for the funeral grant is that most funeral directors want payment up front before they will proceed with the funeral and the grant takes a good few weeks to be sorted - you need to send the death certificate etc.