What is a pauper’s funeral?
A ‘pauper’s funeral’ or ‘pauper’s cremation’ is now also known as a ‘public health funeral’. It is a basic funeral service that is arranged and paid for by the local authority in the event that family or friends are unable or unwilling to pay for the funeral of someone that has passed away.
Last year alone saw a 26% increase in the number of people in the UK requiring a paupers funeral. This increase takes the total of public health funerals in 2021 to over 6,000, which means that for 1 in every 100 deaths a pauper’s funeral was organised by the local authority or council.
What happens at a pauper’s funeral?
A funeral of this type has a short and basic funeral service and does not include transport for any remaining family members, flowers or obituaries. The local authority will also appoint a funeral director and arrange the date and time for when the public health funeral will be held. In most cases and if resources of the council permit, they will place a notice in the local newspaper or on their own website to share the date, time and venue of the funeral.
Usually, you will be able to attend a pauper’s funeral but it can be dictated by the policies of the local authority that is arranging the funeral. If there are no confirmed attendees for the funeral, then a representative of the council will attend.
If the deceased is to be buried following the initial service then they will be put to rest in an unmarked public grave or ‘paupers grave’. In the cases of cremation, family members or friends may be allowed to collect the ashes but similar to funeral attendance, this will be down to the council's individual policies.
Who qualifies for a public health funeral?
Following the introduction of Section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, local authorities/councils have a responsibility to arrange a dignified cremation or burial for the person that has passed away within their area, if:
- There is no will or executor/s appointed - the law states that if there is a valid will then it is the duty of the executor to arrange and pay for the funeral
- There is no funeral plan in place
- There is no known family
- There is no money available to cover the costs left in the deceased's estate
- Contactable family members or next of kin are not willing to cover the funeral costs
- The deceased person was in the car of the local authority or was homeless
It is worth knowing that as Public health funeral costs are recorded as a civil debt, local authorities have up to three years to reclaim the costs from the estate (if there is one) of the person that has passed away.
What other ways you can get help with funeral costs?
NHS Trusts
If the person passed away in a hospital then the NHS Trust will arrange the funeral and the hospital chaplain will officiate.
Government schemes and Charities
There are also many government schemes and charities available to help with funeral costs such as ‘Funeral Expenses Payment’ grants (also known as a Funeral Payment or FEP). It can help cover funeral costs, such as the burial or cremation fees, coffin or flowers, up to a maximum of £1000.
Crowdfunding
You could also look to set up a Crowdfunding page so that friends and family and donate towards the funeral. It is becoming a more common option to raise funds and is a great way of bringing everyone together before the funeral in a positive way.
