What happens if someone dies with no money

What happens if someone dies with no money

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The Gauge

Original Poster:

4,550 posts

27 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

464 posts

61 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

1,874 posts

21 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:

4,550 posts

27 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

13 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

475 posts

84 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

4,677 posts

121 months

Ari

19,591 posts

229 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

37,681 posts

164 months

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

zb

3,223 posts

178 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

950 posts

118 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

9,427 posts

190 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

4,677 posts

121 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

2,780 posts

180 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

3,141 posts

96 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

2,588 posts

190 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

7,948 posts

234 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

2,885 posts

202 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

4,284 posts

246 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

9,427 posts

190 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