Funeral Grant

[abc123def]

I'm not sure it is a benefit as such butI thought people here might know the answer to my question. If someone who receives an income related benefit died and had young adult children. 2 worked but one was in receipt of IS, would that person claiming IS be able to claim for a funeral grant for their parent? Or would the Government just say the other working children should pay?

 

The working children earn low wage and all of it goes on their living expenses and they have no savings so no spare money at all, but they do not claim any benefits either.

 

Thanks.

[citizenB]

I think the person who is dealing with all the arrangements is the one who needs to apply for the grant.

 

I had cause to look into this a while ago and found some information.. I will just go and find it again.

 

BRB

[citizenB]

https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages/death

 

Scroll down until you get to "Funeral Payments"

 

I am just trying to track down the other link I found.

 

BRB

[citizenB]

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/sb16-a-guide-to-the-social/funeral-payments/

 

https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/overview

 

Here you go.

Edited March 24, 2013 by citizenB

[scotgal68]

The DWP will ask for details of all the surviving siblings and they will be expected to contribute to the cost of the funeral. Only if the siblings are estranged from the person who died and the sibling making the arrangements and provided that the sibling making the arrangements is iro of the qualifying benefit, will they pay the grant x

[citizenB]

Thanks for that information, scotgal

[scotgal68]

I edited it a wee bit, it wasn't making sense 

[abc123def]

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/sb16-a-guide-to-the-social/funeral-payments/

 

Here you go.

 

ah that confirms what I was told, that if there are siblings they are expected to pay. Taken from that article

 

We will not be able to make a payment if there is a parent, son or daughter (other than yourself) of the person who has died who has not been awarded one of the qualifying benefits mentioned above.

 

So it seems it's not worth the IS person claiming at all then, that statement says they won't make any payment? The other siblings have no money either. So paupers funeral then that the council do. If the council deal with it all, would they at least supply the ashes to the children so they can scatter them?

[abc123def]

I found this article which is linked to this. Tbh if the children can have the ashes, a paupers funeral is fine imo.

[scotgal68]

The person making the arrangements has to sign an agreement to say they'll accept responsibility for the costs. A basic funeral (which is what a paupers funeral is, still costs well over £2,000 as much as £3,000. I might be wrong but the state only steps in when there is no one else to do it, and they always try and recover the costs. This might sound heartless and Im sorry if it upsets you, but the

family donate the body to medical science, there is no cost

involved. They even pick the body up for free.

Funerals are a lucrative business and they are in it for the

money, not to do any favours x

I hope things work out for the family, it's a horrible time as it is without the stress of the funeral arrangements

[abc123def]

I don't think a funeral is needed/wanted, I just think the body will need cremating but it would be nice if the children could have the ashes to scatter. The children have no money at all and donating the body to medical science isn't wanted by the person who will die so as I see it they will have no choice but to let the council deal with it. They can't recover the cost if there are no assets and no estate surely?

 

How can they be expected to pay when they have no money?

[MooNboo]

Hi

 

Guidance of funeral grant & I Hope this gives you some guidance on this situation.

 

First and foremost are you or the person that will be making the funeral arrangements in receipt of benefits, if this be the case then an SF200 needs to be completed no, most of the form will means test to see if there is anyone else with in the family who can pay for the funeral.

Please bear in mind that the funeral grant from the DWP does not and will not cover the full funeral expenses and will only cover the basics.. the time to be advised what your entitled to varies from area to area but its about 10 days..

 

Even though the funeral grant will only cover a percentage of funeral expenses, once you sign the funeral estimate and confirmation of the arrangements, you are liable for any costs not covered by the DWP.

 

i.e DWP agree to pay £1200,but the funeral cost is £2100, then a short fall of £900 is liable by the person who signed the arrangements...

[abc123def]

That's the thing, no one has any money so they will not be signing anything or taking any responsibility for the cost. Not out of choice, but because they can't. A funeral isn't wanted, the body just needs cremating. There are siblings who aren't in receipt of means tested benefits so the DWP won't pay anything towards the cost so not worth claiming when nothing will be awarded, as it clearly states in the link in posts above.

[MooNboo]

Has the person passed away at home or in a hospital ? From experience with in the funeral profession if no DWP grant has been raised or no one is prepared to pay for the funeral due to the lack of funds, then some hospital / council trusts do hold contracts with a nominated funeral director for a basic funeral, The simplest arrangements are for cremation only and the times are normally early morning.

This is normally reserved for deceased's with no family and no money, where as an investigation team will look at the assets of the deceased, ie property , bank accounts, person property within a household that could be sold to contribute toward the funeral

 

You could certainly ask the question and advise them of the family circumstances.