What happens if someone dies with no money
What happens if someone dies with no money
Author
Discussion

The Gauge

Original Poster:

6,458 posts

37 months

Tuesday 10th September 2024
quotequote all
Who pays for a funeral when someone dies with no money?

My wife has just found out her step brother passed away very recently, he lived in sheltered housing having been a drug, drink and gambling addict so he had no money and no assets. My wife never had anything to do with him and doesn't really know him. She has no desire to contribute to, attend or have any involvement in any funeral arrangements.

So who picks up the bill for a funeral in these circumstances? Do Public Health Funerals exist for these occasions, with the local authority picking up any funeral costs?

Mr_J

513 posts

71 months

Tuesday 10th September 2024
quotequote all
I think the term is a paupers funeral.

Or more accurately a public health funeral - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health_fune...

Edited by Mr_J on Tuesday 10th September 21:24

BunkMoreland

3,634 posts

31 months

Tuesday 10th September 2024
quotequote all
The Gauge said:
Who pays for a funeral when someone dies with no money?

My wife has just found out her step brother passed away very recently, he lived in sheltered housing having been a drug, drink and gambling addict so he had no money and no assets. My wife never had anything to do with him and doesn't really know him. She has no desire to contribute to, attend or have any involvement in any funeral arrangements.

So who picks up the bill for a funeral in these circumstances? Do Public Health Funerals exist for these occasions, with the local authority picking up any funeral costs?
Would she have been happy to contribute to those costs if he had been worth £20 million? hehe

The Gauge

Original Poster:

6,458 posts

37 months

Tuesday 10th September 2024
quotequote all
BunkMoreland said:
Would she have been happy to contribute to those costs if he had been worth £20 million? hehe
I'm sure she would biggrin but then there wouldn't be any requirement for anyone to contribute.

CammyN

238 posts

23 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
I believe that the Local Authority pays for a funeral when there is no estate and no relatives.

I don't know if it it still the case but a Council employee used to attend the funeral for the sake of at least one person attending,

djcube

517 posts

94 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
There's a book called "Ashes to Admin" by Evie King. She was (is?) a council funeral officer. She writes about the various scenarios that she has had to deal with in the job. From memory, a similar case to the OP's was written about.

ARHarh

4,892 posts

131 months

Ari

19,766 posts

239 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
BunkMoreland said:
Would she have been happy to contribute to those costs if he had been worth £20 million? hehe
Ooh this looks like a fun game.

What if he was a space alien?

What if he had two heads?

Must be loads of things he's not that we could ask 'what if he were?' coffee

glenrobbo

39,463 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
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They win, because there is no inheritance tax due on their estate.

zb

3,803 posts

188 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
I heard about a similar case a few weeks ago, old school friend of my mum, her boyfriend got put in a home, alzheimer's related iirc. Died, no dependants or next of kin, my mum's friend seemingly didn't count. Council cremated him, don't think my mum's friend even got the ashes. She was a bit shocked tbh.

Dynamic Space Wizard

958 posts

128 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
Ari said:
BunkMoreland said:
Would she have been happy to contribute to those costs if he had been worth £20 million? hehe
Ooh this looks like a fun game.

What if he was a space alien?

What if he had two heads?

Must be loads of things he's not that we could ask 'what if he were?' coffee
If he had stayed alive and won £300 million would she have been happy to receive £20 million from him as a gift?

Tango13

9,865 posts

200 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
Ari said:
BunkMoreland said:
Would she have been happy to contribute to those costs if he had been worth £20 million? hehe
Ooh this looks like a fun game.

What if he was a space alien?

What if he had two heads?

Must be loads of things he's not that we could ask 'what if he were?' coffee
Space alien = lead coffin out in Area 51

Two heads = a coffin that's a bloody awkward shape to carry

My turn...

What if he had been partially eaten by cannibals?


ARHarh

4,892 posts

131 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
Tango13 said:
What if he had been partially eaten by cannibals?
He'd be easier to carry than the 2 headed bloke smile

Sixsixtysix

2,827 posts

190 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
CammyN said:
I don't know if it it still the case but a Council employee used to attend the funeral for the sake of at least one person attending,
If that's true, who is it for? Seems completely pointless.

Badda

3,640 posts

106 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
Sixsixtysix said:
CammyN said:
I don't know if it it still the case but a Council employee used to attend the funeral for the sake of at least one person attending,
If that's true, who is it for? Seems completely pointless.
Sigh.

If you’re going down that route, what’s the point of the funeral at all? Just stick them in the hospital incinerator.

sinbaddio

2,776 posts

200 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
The Gauge said:
Who pays for a funeral when someone dies with no money?

My wife has just found out her step brother passed away very recently, he lived in sheltered housing having been a drug, drink and gambling addict so he had no money and no assets. My wife never had anything to do with him and doesn't really know him. She has no desire to contribute to, attend or have any involvement in any funeral arrangements.

So who picks up the bill for a funeral in these circumstances? Do Public Health Funerals exist for these occasions, with the local authority picking up any funeral costs?
https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment/how-to-claim

toasty

8,225 posts

244 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
This is my ultimate goal, die with bugger all, having spent every last penny of my life’s savings.

My wife may not be too pleased about this though. smile

Electronicpants

3,037 posts

212 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
toasty said:
This is my ultimate goal, die with bugger all, having spent every last penny of my life’s savings.

My wife may not be too pleased about this though. smile
Mines to die in my sleep peacefully, like my Grandfather, not screaming in terror knowing your going to die, like his passengers.*



  • RIP Bob Monkhouse







FredericRobinson

4,769 posts

256 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
Badda said:
Sigh.

If you’re going down that route, what’s the point of the funeral at all? Just stick them in the hospital incinerator.
Yes, funerals aren’t for the dead, they’re gone, they’re for the living, if there’s no one living who wants to attend there’s no point having one

Tango13

9,865 posts

200 months

Wednesday 11th September 2024
quotequote all
Badda said:
Sixsixtysix said:
CammyN said:
I don't know if it it still the case but a Council employee used to attend the funeral for the sake of at least one person attending,
If that's true, who is it for? Seems completely pointless.
Sigh.

If you’re going down that route, what’s the point of the funeral at all? Just stick them in the hospital incinerator.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=205&t=2093438&i=0