Council paying for welfare funeral

[fandabby]

Good morning

Does anyone have any knowledge of a council paying for a ‘welfare’ funeral?

Background:
My Dad lived with his friend and her husband.
My Dad has a window cleaning business with his friend which the husband works in.
The friend and husband along with my Dad got evicted from their home - repossessed.
They have been living in a caravan on a site which my Dad pays for.
lots of debt for all three of them.

Friend sadly died suddenly.

There is literally no money to pay for a funeral as in overdrafts and loads of debt.

They approached their local council for advice and to seek out a welfare funeral (council to pay)

Council are saying they will seize the window cleaning business, vehicle and my Dad’s caravan to cover the cost.

So my question is can the council seize my Dad’s window cleaning business, the car and his caravan? Surely not as not his wife.

The husband does not own the business or the caravan they are currently living in.

However, his wife was my Dad’s business partner.

Their age by the way - 76.

it’s an aweful situation.


Any advice or knowledge on how councils can behave will be welcome.

many thanks

[echat11]

Posted for information only - https://quakersocialaction.org.uk/we...-funeral-costs

[PallasAthena]

Who owns the car and the caravan? The window cleaning company? Your dad personally, in his own name? Someone else?

Is the window cleaning business set up as a Ltd company? If so who are the shareholders?

[des8]

Condolences on your loss

That council needs reminding that the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, place a duty on the council to take care of the cremation or burial of people who die within their boundary, if no-one else can or will take responsibility.

It may be necessary for his widow to provide a written statement disclaiming responsibility.
The council may claw back the cost from the deceased's estate, but if there is nothing there......

Such funerals are very basic, and burial could be in an unmarked shared grave.

Alternative help may be available from DWP https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments