When we arrange a funeral

When will the council arrange a funeral?

Wirral Council is responsible for burying or cremating anybody who dies within its area if no other arrangements are being made, this can be because no relatives of the person who died can be found or because their relatives are unable or unwilling to arrange a funeral. 

The responsibility is placed on the council by Section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984. 

If the person died outside of the council boundary, the funeral arrangements will be the responsibility of the local authority where they died, even if they lived within Wirral.  

We are unable to become involved if the funeral is already booked or has taken place. Anyone giving instruction to a firm of funeral directors, for example for collection of the body, is responsible for any costs incurred.

Costs

Any estate (usually money or property) left by the person who died must first be used to pay for the funeral, except when there are secured debts, such as mortgages or secured loans. It should not be used to pay off any other bills. 

The Council has the right, where possible, to recover all the funeral costs from the estate of the person who died. This includes accessing bank accounts, savings, investments, selling belongings or placing a charge against property owned. To do this we may need to enter their property to identify any estate and retrieve associated paperwork or items of value. While we appreciate it is difficult, we ask that family and friends don’t remove any items themselves. 

Any shortfall in the costs will be paid by the Council and where there is no estate, no costs will be claimed back.

Referrals and arrangements

Council funeral referrals can come from various sources including the coroner, GPs, care homes, social workers or family members themselves.

Where the person has died within a hospital, you should contact the hospital bereavement office who will be able to help.

Cremation and burial

A cremation will be held unless there is reason to believe that the person who died would have chosen burial for religious, cultural, or personal reasons. 

Cremations are held at Landican Crematorium and burials at Landican Cemetery. 

If a burial is required and they did not own a grave, the burial will take place in an unpurchased grave. As an unpurchased grave remains with Wirral Council, their will be no memorial to mark the grave and a further burial of an unrelated person may take place in the same grave in the future. 

In cases of cremation, the cremated remains will be stored safely for collection by the funeral director who can make them available for the family to collect if they wish to do so. If they are not collected they will be scattered within Landican Crematorium’s Gardens of Remembrance. No charge will be made for this.

The funeral

We will provide everything necessary for a simple, yet dignified and respectful, service including a coffin, transport of the deceased person to the crematorium or cemetery, and sufficient bearers to transfer the coffin to the chapel. Any known religious beliefs, or none, will be respected. 

To observers, a council funeral will appear no different to a simple ceremony that has not been arranged by the council.

The service can be attended by friends and family of the deceased but they will have minimal input into the arrangements. They can choose a piece of music and can have input into the eulogy, however anything else requested e.g. a car to carry the mourners would have to be met by the requester.

Timescales

We appreciate the upset a loved one’s death can caused and we try to ensure funeral arrangements are carried out in a respectful period after death. 

From being notified of the possible need for a council funeral to the funeral booking being made, these arrangements will be carried out as soon as possible.

Assistance with funeral costs

If you would like to take responsibility for the funeral yourself but need help with the costs and are in receipt of certain benefits or tax credits, then you may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment from the Department for Work and Pensions. This can pay a contribution but is unlikely to cover the full amount. Details on eligibility and how to apply can also be found on GOV.UK above.

Other potential sources of government support, depending on your circumstances, include the Children's Funeral Fund for England and the Bereavement Support Payment. 

Sources of funding may also be available from charities, and you can identify ones that you may be eligible to apply to by using the grant search on the Turn2Us website.

Contact details

Please contact the Client Finance Support Team on email: DASSfinancialprotectionteam@wirral.gov.uk