Wigan Council has a duty under the Section 46(1) of the Public Health Act to arrange a funeral for a resident where this is no other responsible person willing or able to make the funeral arrangements.
This service is often known as a ‘Public Health Funeral’.
If the person has passed away in the community, then Wigan Council may be able to make the funeral arrangements. If the person has passed away in a Wigan hospital setting (admitted to a ward) then arrangements could be made by the NHS Bereavement Service who can be contacted on 01942 244000.
The time around someone’s passing can be one of the most challenging and trying times people can experience.
Is there any financial support towards the costs
Funerals are expensive and many people find it difficult meeting all the costs involved. You may be able to receive support with funeral costs from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
As part of the requirements of the Wigan Council Community Funeral Service, the Funeral Director will give you a ‘Making a Claim for Social Fund Help’ form.
In some situations, Jobcentre Plus can help with the cost of the funeral. To be able to claim help with the cost of a funeral, you need to be getting, or making a claim for, one of the following benefits:
- Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
- Working Tax Credit to include the disability or severe disability element
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
If you get or have applied for and are eligible for any of these benefits, you can claim help with funeral expenses through the DWP. The financial help that you can get is limited and you can arrange for the payment to be made directly to the funeral director which will cover some of the costs of the funeral.
Wigan Council will arrange to pay the remaining costs following the payment received from the DWP if family are unable to meet the additional costs.
What is included in the funeral service provided by Wigan Council
If Wigan Council is arranging the service, we will work with a local firm of funeral directors with the aim of providing a simple, dignified funeral, giving family and friends peace of mind if they are unable to lay their loved one to rest.
The service includes:
- Collection of the body from within the Wigan borough
- Provision of the Funeral Director’s services, including staff and pallbearers who will attend to the necessary arrangements, following guidance from Wigan Council
- Care of the deceased prior to the funeral for up to two weeks
- Arrangement and conduction of the cremation in a Wigan borough crematorium (a cremation is usually the default ceremony type. However, in all cases the deceased’s known religious beliefs or rituals as well as their wishes will be respected and this can include a burial)
- Cost of a basic coffin, including name plate, handles, pillow and lining
- Provision of a hearse to the crematorium of cemetery in the Wigan borough
- Minister/Celebrants’ fees if required
- Provision and administration of appropriate/required certification to the crematorium or cemetery
- Administration of the cremated remains to the next of kin if/when required by the Council.
We will always encourage family, friends and well-wishers to attend the funeral and celebrate the life of the sadly-deceased person.
How does Wigan Council recover the costs of a funeral
Under Section 46(5) of the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984, Wigan Council is able to recover the costs of a funeral from the deceased person’s estate.
In the first instance Wigan Council will recover any costs by sending a copy of the funeral invoice to the deceased person’s bank: a bank will always pay a funeral invoice partially or fully if the deceased has funds in their account.
If the deceased has no funds in their bank account and family are not receiving any of the benefits listed above, then the Wigan Council Community Funeral Service will cover the cost of the funeral in full using our current contracted funeral provider.
Collection of Ashes
Collection of the deceased ashes following the cremation, can be arranged by Wigan Council with the crematorium on your behalf, you will have 14 days from the funeral date in which to collect them. If they are not collected within this time, the Crematorium staff will respectfully scatter the ashes on the garden of remembrance.
How can I apply for this support
If you would like to apply for the Wigan Council Community Funeral service, please contact our CAF Team on 01942 828777 and the team will support you with the process.
What happens after I have contacted the team
Our CAF Team will take all the relevant details of the deceased person plus any appropriate contacts (such as next of kin, family etc). The referral will be passed to our Financial Wellbeing Team who will then contact you to discuss the funeral arrangements.