Funeral costs

[Al Wyn]

A close friends in a bit of a pickle atm his grandmother has just passed away and he is sadly the only living relative. His gran had no savings and lived in a nursing home. He has been told earlier today that he is facing a £2500 bill for the funeral costs which i know he will struggle to find... prior to me offering him financial assistance with this (which he probably wouldnt accept as he is a very proud guy) surely there are ways around him paying...sounds bad reading this back but sadly live goes on for him and his gran has passed on. Any help/positive/btdt input genuinely appreciated.

[BlackVanGirl]

how sad... hope this helps.

From here

help the aged page said:

If there is no money to pay for the funeral, the local council should arrange and pay for a simple funeral (or sometimes the hospital will do so if the person died there). This will be a dignified funeral followed by cremation or burial, and is not like the old 'pauper's' funeral. If you don't have the money to pay for a funeral, talk to the council (or hospital) as soon as possible - don't make any arrangements before you do this. You might find it helpful to get advice and support from your local Citizens Advice Bureau if you are in this position.

Here's an example of such from Sevenoaks council

All the best to your mate, what an awful situation to be in.

[Matt172]

Sorry to hear that

Department of Works and Pensions should be able to help too

[Al Wyn]

Thanks for taking the time to reply guys its appreciated... bvg i will be meeting him later for a chat and have to say thats some great info youve supplied there thanks again

[BigAlinEmbra]

Co-op have payment plans, but dunno if it's up front or retrospectively.
Worth investigating.

[Lucie W]

Have look here. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Be...

But the funeral directors should be able to help him out - they should have told him all this info already. But basically you can get help from the 'social fund' from the government, they help towards the costs but won't pay it all.

[Scraggles]

surprised it costs £2500 to shove someone into a furnace and pour the remains into a jar ?

http://www.whatprice.co.uk/health/funeral-cost.htm...

Cost of Cremation £380

tbh look on dead people as shells of their former selves and not to waste money on them, when I die the cheapest way possible is fine,why do I not care ? as would be dead and have no further use for it...

[Lucie W]

Scraggles said:

surprised it costs £2500 to shove someone into a furnace and pour the remains into a jar ?

http://www.whatprice.co.uk/health/funeral-cost.htm...

Cost of Cremation £380

tbh look on dead people as shells of their former selves and not to waste money on them, when I die the cheapest way possible is fine,why do I not care ? as would be dead and have no further use for it...

Cheapest way of doing it is going to be about £1800. Cremation fee is £380, but then you've got the directors' fees (upwards of £400 at least), use of vehicles, coffin (cheapest £300ish), doctors fees (£150), church fees, mortuary fee, environmental fee etc etc etc. Costs a fair bit even if you cut all the corners.

[Soir]

If the person arranging the funeral is out of work and claiming benefits (not sure about pensioner) then you can claim around £2-2.5k from benefit office to help towards funeral costs.

Had one recently and very expensive around £9k in all for fairly basic funeral, no assistance (we all work, thankfully) and doesnt include a headstone (not yet bought)