Funerals and financial assistance

Funerals and financial assistance

Council contract funerals

The law

Under Section 46 of the Public Health and Control of Diseases Act 1984, the council has a statutory obligation  to carry out the funeral arrangements of a person who dies within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham area and where there is no one else willing or able to deal with the funeral arrangements, for whatever reason.

The council has a contract with

W. Sherry & Sons, (Funeral Directors)
227 Acton Lane
London W4 5DD
Tel: 020 8994-5474 Fax: 020 8747 8388.

Referrals

The majority of sudden death referrals are received from the Coroners Officers but the occasional referral may come from a Doctor who has certified the death.

Many of the referrals may be where there are no known blood relatives and before the funeral is arranged two Council Officers from the Client Affairs Section will carry out a search (where possible) of the deceased’s premises to ascertain if any evidence can be found to find details of next of kin.

In some cases there may be known relatives but they may not be in a position to arrange a private funeral,  in which case their written permission would be requested for the council to deal.

The Council funeral contract allows for

• the opening of a grave plot if a grave plot certificate is discovered.

We will always try to ensure that the funeral takes place in accordance to what it was believed would have been the deceased wishes in relation to their religious or ethnic beliefs. For example, if a search was carried out and a crucifix was discovered then it would be very likely that a burial would be arranged and Roman Catholic priest would be engaged to conduct the service.

Burial

If the funeral is to be a burial, the death has to be registered first. This is done by visiting the Fulham Registrars office at Fulham Town Hall.

 
Cremation

If the funeral is to be a cremation then the death can be registered after the funeral has taken place - assuming the death is not subject to an inquest.

What happens after the council has overseen the funeral?
 
Once the funeral has taken place, the client affairs service carries out all of the following:-

• tries to reimburse the council’s funeral costs either by writing to any banks/building societies or even selling the deceased’s personal effects that are not items of a sentimental nature
• advises the Department of Work & Pensions of the death
• advises any private company pensions of the death
• takes take final gas/electric meter readings, phoning them through to the respective companies, advising them of their customer’s death before
• arranging termination of the tenancy
• refer the estate of the deceased who has over £500 remaining after the funeral costs have been reimbursed to the Treasury Solicitor’s Office. (who would make further enquiries for family members).

For more information on financial assistance for funerals contact:-

Paul Joyce, Manager, Client affairs service 
Tel: 020 8753 5042
145 -155 King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9XY
email: paul.joyce@lbhf.gov.uk