Funeral Expenses Amount

hayley11

Hi

My uncle died on Friday and my sister is his next of kin, we're trying to find out how much we can claim for the funeral as we don't have the funds to pay for it. He left no money, no will, no funeral plan. He has a brother (our Dad) but they haven't spoken in a very long time and he has no money to pay for the funeral either.

I'm hitting a bit of a roadblock finding out an exact amount we'll be able to claim, I phoned the number on the government website and they said we can't put a claim in until we have a bill from the funeral director but we can't get a bill until we know how much we can claim back, to make sure most of the cost will be covered.

The government person I spoke to said I needed to speak to the local authority where my uncle died regarding the amount we can claim but I've tried that and they haven't a clue what I'm talking about, I am waiting for them to ring back.

Can anybody advise the amount we'll be able to claim or where can get a definitive answer? 

Thanks

poppystar

As I understand it you do not have to arrange and pay for the funeral if you can’t or don’t want to. Contact his local authority and explain there is no money and they should arrange it. You will have no input but I’m sure you can attend if you wish and, whilst the funeral may be at an unattractive time, these things are arranged sensitively. You may have to be very insistent on there being no money but do persevere. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-health-funerals-good-practice-guidance/public-health-funerals-good-practice-guidance

Choirgrl

Sorry for your loss

In  case you haven’t already seen it, there is some information from Money Helper here: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/family-and-care/death-and-bereavement/help-paying-for-a-funeral

Have you tried asking a local funeral director - they will be used to this and know what the local council does as well as how Funeral Expense Payments work.

My understanding is that a close relative can claim a Funeral Expense Payment for help with expenses if they are on certain benefits, but that it won’t cover everything. Your father would count as a close relative, but your sister may not. What you get is dependent on circumstances, which is probably why you’re struggling to get a definitive answer on amount.

If you can’t afford to pay anything then the local council arrange and pay for a public health funeral. They make the decisions about the arrangements, but you can attend.

Grumpelstiltskin

Do not do anything to arrange the funeral at the moment.

There is nothing legally regarding next of kin, your sister  also does not put herself in a position where she is liable to pay.

hayley11

Thanks all - I finally got somewhere, we are going to have a public health funeral, where the local authority pay. I didn't know this was an option until just now. So he will get a very basic funeral but we don't have to pay anything towards it. I'm so glad I encouraged both my parents to get funeral care plans for when they go, it's so stressful worrying about the money side of things. 

gwynlas

Sorry for your loss and glad that you were able to get somewhere with your enquiries.
Would it be possible for you to return abd give an update after you have attended the public health funeral as many people still believe that they carry stigma?

SevenOfNine

My SiL & other members of the family were allowed to attend her brother's public health funeral. It was at what might have been considered an 'inconvenient' time if it were a paid for funeral & they were even allowed to organise some flowers.  I think attendance may be up to individual Local Authorities though.

A few words were said, but only a short time was allocated for that in the crematorium, as far as I know no hymns/prayers.

Financial assistance for those on benefits is here https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments

Silvertabby

A friend, who used to work for a funeral director, tells me that the biggest stumbling block re public health funerals is the fact that graves can't be marked in any way.  This was particularly difficult for parents, who wanted to erect permanent memorials to their children.

Most public health funerals are actually cremations, after which the ashes are returned to the families who can then scatter them and hold their own memorials.

The Local Authority she worked in did allow families to attend the very brief joint service, but not all do.