A public health funeral is the cremation or burial of someone who has died, usually alone, is unclaimed, and often without funds to provide for their own funeral.
Public health funerals are also known as national assistance funerals and paupers' funerals.
Under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, we have a duty to make arrangements for the funeral or cremation of the body of anyone who has died or is found dead in the borough, where it is established after investigation that there is no alternative course of action.
Where possible we will recover funeral expenses from monies available from the deceased's estate. This limits the cost to the people of City of York.
If a person dies without a known next of kin, we normally act on written instructions received from the local coroner's office. Sometimes, the managers of residential homes and sheltered accommodation advise of circumstances where, as far as they know, there are no relatives willing or able to make the funeral arrangements.
Where the coroner has notified us of a death and, as far as they are aware, there is no one willing to make funeral arrangements, we will search the deceased person’s home. We will try to find a will or any documents that show the existence of any relatives, religious beliefs or funeral preferences.
- What happens at a public health funeral
- Burial or cremation
- Religious or secular services
- Cremated remains
- Funeral payment
- Property and personal effects
What happens at a public health funeral
If nobody is prepared to arrange the funeral we will take responsibility for the funeral arrangements. This includes:
- registration of the death
- instructing a funeral director to collect the body
- provide a death notice giving details of the date and time of the funeral service in the York Press newspaper
- providing a coffin
- transporting the deceased to the crematorium
We will tell any known family and friends the date and time of the funeral. They can attend if they wish to do so.
Burial or cremation
Unless there is evidence that the deceased would have been against cremation we will plan for a cremation. This will take place at York Crematorium.
If the person has left paperwork or told family or friends that they wanted to be buried we will make suitable arrangements for burial, which will be a graveside service at Dringhouses cemetery. The burial will be in a common grave, unless there is a family grave and the Deed of Grant can be produced.
No form of memorial in the form of a headstone can be placed on a common grave.
Religious or secular services
It may not be possible for us to find out if the deceased was religious or not, but we will always try to find someone to take the funeral service.
Cremated remains
The cremated remains of the deceased will be interred in the gardens of remembrance unless other specific instructions are found amongst the deceased possessions or in a will. Any costs associated with specific instructions must be met through the deceased's estate or by family members or friends.
If a family member wishes to keep the remains then they must be collected from the crematorium.
Funeral payment
The cost of the funeral is usually met out of the estate of the deceased. If there are insufficient funds the executor is personally liable.
Where the deceased has not left a will the person arranging the funeral is liable to meet the funeral costs. This is normally the next of kin.
If the next of kin is not prepared to arrange and pay for the funeral (for example where there are insufficient funds in the estate) they will be asked to make a written statement to confirm that they are not prepared to do this.
Funeral payments from the Social Fund
If the next of kin receives certain benefits or tax credits, then they may be entitled to a funeral payment from the Social Fund. You can find more information about funeral payments on GOV.UK.
Other cost options
There are ways to help reduce costs, for example the main cost of a funeral is the cost of using a funeral director.
Our staff at York crematorium are always willing to discuss options, and we would urge anyone finding themselves in this situation to contact York Crematorium.
Property and personal effects
If the deceased left furniture or other personal effects, arrangements will be made to dispose of these items. If possible, property is sold and the money offset against the cost of the funeral.
When all costs are known we inform the Treasury Solicitor under rules set down by the Secretary of State.
Also see