Help with grandparent funeral costs

Jewkesy

Hi everyone.

Basically I'm worried about the cost of my nans funeral should she pass away. I recently lost my mum to cancer and have now taken the on responsibly of my nan who turns 87 next week. Since the cost for my mums funeral was in the £3000 region, there is no way I have the money to pay for it.

My nan has no estate and has lived in a warden-controlled housing complex which she pays rent to the local authority. She has no bank account and a majority of her pension is spent on cooked meals, bingo and daily trips at the local Tesco Express. She does hand over any surplus cash to myself which I use to pay her bills, her weekly supermarket shop, buying her clothes, slippers, shoes and any other running around she needs. But even the remaining cash ive saved is nowhere near enough should I need to pay for her funeral.

So my question is since I'm her oldest grandson and she has no other surviving dependants, is it my responsibility to fund the funeral, or can I get help from the government since she is drawing a pension, living in a council run flat, etc.? She doesn't really have anything of value to her name.

She's currently in good health, but this has been a concern for me for a little while now should the worse happen. I've read the direct gov website but I couldn't find the relevant information I'm after.

Many thanks

Annisele

Have a look at this part of the Direct Gov website, and enter in your grandmother's postcode.

That should send you to the local council's website, and you'll have to dig around in there to find what you need. For example, Greenwich council says this.

pawsies

Can you not ask other family members to help out?

I think you should enjoy the time you have with her and worry about the funeral when it comes to it.

Put money aside now but enjoy the time left rather than planning her funeral arrangements

Jewkesy

pawsies wrote: »

Can you not ask other family members to help out?

I think you should enjoy the time you have with her and worry about the funeral when it comes to it.

Put money aside now but enjoy the time left rather than planning her funeral arrangements

You're right, I enjoy going round each week to see her, and help her get through the mountain of shortbread she seems to be hoarding. Sadly can't say the same for my brother and 2 cousins who haven't bothered to speak to her since Christmas, despite us all living within 5 miles of her. Their loss tbh.

*max*

pawsies wrote: »

Can you not ask other family members to help out?

I think you should enjoy the time you have with her and worry about the funeral when it comes to it.

Put money aside now but enjoy the time left rather than planning her funeral arrangements

Actually, it is VERY wise to think about funeral arrangements in advance, although the person concerned should have something place, ideally, to save their grieving family the burden of having to come up with a large sum of money after their death. The cost of a funeral can be crippling for the relatives and the financial worry is hard to bear in times of grief, believe me. Advance planning doesn't mean you will not be "enjoying the time left". It just makes sense to plan ahead for what is, after all, inevitable.

kingfisherblue

Is it possible that your nan has some life insurance? You say that you deal with the bills, but there could be something that has been 'paid up' that will pay out on her death, and that would help with funeral costs.

I think it is wise to consider the costs of your nan's funeral, and how to pay for it, even though it isn't something that you really want to think about. You sound level headed and caring. I'll bet your nan is proud of you, and happy that you visit her and help her. You sound like a lovely grandson.

Jewkesy

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Is it possible that your nan has some life insurance? You say that you deal with the bills, but there could be something that has been 'paid up' that will pay out on her death, and that would help with funeral costs.

I think it is wise to consider the costs of your nan's funeral, and how to pay for it, even though it isn't something that you really want to think about. You sound level headed and caring. I'll bet your nan is proud of you, and happy that you visit her and help her. You sound like a lovely grandson.

No she has never had anything like that. My grandad died when I was 3, she hated living on her own so she used to live in our family home for half the week, then at my aunts for the other half. She practically raised us while our parents worked, which is why I love spending time with her now and making sure she is as comfortable as possible.

londonsurrey

Does your grandmother get pension credit?

http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/index.php?page=keeping-funeral-costs-down

Jewkesy

londonsurrey wrote: »

Does your grandmother get pension credit?

Yes she does actually, however I'm not on any benefit so would that still apply?

Dunroamin

Have you looked at the possibility of either her or you taking out one of the small insurance plans that are aimed at the elderly?

Amanda65

I work for a charity and attended a presentation recently by the Quaker Social Action about their 'Down to Earth' campaign. It made for interesting listening and gave some good advice (and you don't have to be a Quaker to benefit from it)

http://www.quakersocialaction.com/downtoearth

It doesn't help with funding but gives some good pointers about where to go for help and advice