Help Paying for Funeral Costs as Student

raaaaa

Hello,

I'd be very grateful for any advice or assistance that this group can provide in relation to the following situation - thanks v much in advance.

My daughters' mum has recently & unexpectedly passed away at age 47 - her mum and I got divorced 15 years ago. Our daughter is 20 yrs old and is her mum's next of kin - her mum has no living parents or siblings. She unfortunately died with no property or assets as far as we're aware, so there is almost certainly no money in her estate.

Our daughter is currently a full time student at university, and so has no money or assets to use to cover the upcoming funeral costs. I will try my best to help my daughter cover the funeral costs, but unfortunately I have very little money either.

Looking at the various types of financial assistance available in these circumstances, including Funeral Expenses Payment & Bereavement Support, it doesn't look as though my daughter will qualify for these as she's not on any of the state benefits. However, it seems odd that financial assistance for funerals doesn't appear to be available for full time students who lose a close relative. I've also read that some Local Auth's can offer financial support in such circumstances, but this seems like a discretionary source of funding and so I'm unsure exactly how difficult this may be for her to access.

We'd therefore be very grateful for any advice or suggestions that others may have to assist my daughter in paying for her mums funeral.

Thank you.

Flugelhorn

I am really sorry to hear about this - must be very difficult for your daughter. If there really is no money in the estate  then  ultimately the council will pay, they will arrange a funeral and it may be early or late in the day - it may be worth you speaking to bereavement services at the local council 

KxMx

Maybe the University might be able to signpost her somewhere? 

Keep_pedalling

For situations like this the most appropriate thing would be a public health funeral.

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

Silvertabby

A friend, who used to work for a funeral director, tells me that public health funerals are carried out with as much care and dignity as privately funded funerals.

But there are limitations.  For example, the services may be for more than one deceased, and will be at a time and place of the Council's choosing.  Most allow families/friends to attend, but  some don't.

The default is cremation, unless it is known that that would be against the religious beliefs of the deceased.  The ashes should then be given to your daughter.  If burial, then note that the grave may not be marked in any way - ie, headstone.

Savvy_Sue

Silvertabby said:

 If burial, then note that the grave may not be marked in any way - ie, headstone.

Also note that unmarked doesn't mean untraceable. DH's grandparents are in one, because there was no money for a headstone at the time. When Mother goes to join them with Father's ashes we'll add one then. But the cemetery staff have been so helpful in identifying where they are.

raaaaa

Thank you all so much for your help & kind words :-)

Spendless

Also worth noting is if your daughter's Mum's ashes can't have a plaque now, that may not always be the case. My Grandad died in 2000 and my Nan kept his ashes in an urn. We weren't aware till she went into a care home. Nan died last month and my Mum has paid for both their ashes to be placed in the same plot with a plaque. The ashes would obviously need to be kept though, so depends on whether this is something your daughter would be comfortable with.