Who pays for a funeral if the person who dies is poor?

People have been buried in their own gardens, although I thought planning permission might be necessary, and it can cause difficulties when it comes to selling the place.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3630221.stm

 

A friends mother once bought about 6 or 7 copies of the same DVD on line, kept clicking the buy icon "to make sure" and then didn't notice the total price when paying..
Quote Peter Kaye, " if it's not one thing, it's yer mother"

 

Both my parents have recently done this, all pre-arranged and paid for in advance.

Quite what would happen in a HMV voucher type scenario is unclear - presumably rather than walking out with goods to the value of, you dump the stiff on the doorstep and do a runner?

 

Much easier to do - they won't have tags fitted and set off the detectors on the way in.

 

That's a good point Little Me, I hadn't thought about that, they are hardly likely to die at the same time so the first funeral would be paid for by the remaining parent - I think they get pension credits and a bit of housing benefit so that one would be taken care of. Mum's always said she just wants to be chucked i a cardboard box and doesnt want a ceremony - so would be ideal if Dad went first! Don't worry about being blunt - I'm the same, but I suppose it's easy when we are talking about facts and not actually going through the event in question.

 

No, they haven't made wills. They are of the opinion that they don't need to as they live in sheltered accommodation and have no savings. That shouldn't be too much of a problem when the first one goes but will still be a nightmare after the second one. I keep telling them they still need a will even though they don't have much.

 

"Green" funerals might be a possible. With some of the burial sites you can dig the grave yourself (or use a mini JCB). Wicker or cardboard coffins are biodegradable and cost far less than a wooden one. Not making this sound very good but they can be far more dignified and personal than standard funerals.

http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/

http://www.ifishoulddie.co.uk/greenwoodlandalternativediy-funeral-c46.html

https://www.mylastsong.com/advice/114/107/funerals/alternative-funerals/

 

This, somewhat unsavoury, comedy - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pw5s2 - featuring Ronnie Corbett, was on the radio whilst I was struggling through the blizzard this morning. It covers a lot of what we have been talking about.

 

I believe Age UK offer a service http://www.ageuk.org.uk/products/financial-products-and-services/legal-services/ Its not free but probably cost effective.