When There Is No Money for a Funeral
Sometimes someone dies and the people around them simply don’t have the money to pay for a funeral.
It can be particularly difficult when the person trying to help is a friend, neighbour or another person who knows very little about the deceased’s private affairs.
They may not have access to bank accounts. They may not know whether the person had superannuation or insurance. They may not know whether there is a will or who the family are.
That doesn’t necessarily mean there is nothing they can do.
In Queensland, there is a Funeral Assistance Scheme that may be able to arrange a basic burial or cremation where the deceased died in Queensland and there is no known next of kin who is willing or able to meet the cost of a funeral.
You don’t need to know everything
This is perhaps the most important thing to understand.
If you are the person who has stepped forward because nobody else is available, you may know very little about the deceased’s financial circumstances.
That’s okay.
The application allows an individual who is not the spouse or parent of the deceased to apply. For a non-spouse/non-parent applicant, the assessment is based on the information they are able to provide about the deceased. Their own personal financial information is not collected or used for the assessment.
You are not expected to invent information you don’t have.
If you don’t know whether the deceased had a particular bank account, say that you don’t know.
If you don’t know whether they had superannuation or insurance, say that you don’t know.
If you don’t know who their family are, say that you don’t know.
Give the Court what you know. Don’t guess what you don’t know.
Before you agree to pay for the funeral
If you think Funeral Assistance may be needed, find out whether you can apply before agreeing to pay for a funeral yourself.
This is particularly important because the application states that an individual application will be automatically declined where a contract for funeral services has already been signed with a funeral company.
The statutory declaration also requires the applicant to declare that they have not arranged a funeral before making the application.
So, if there is a possibility that the Funeral Assistance Scheme may apply:
Make the application first.
Don’t sign a funeral contract simply because someone has died and you are the only person available to help.
What if I know almost nothing about the deceased?
Imagine this situation.
Someone dies in Queensland.
The police have made enquiries but haven’t been able to find anyone else who can or will take responsibility.
A friend or neighbour is the only person available.
They know the person’s name and where they died, but very little else.
They don’t know:
- which bank the person used
- whether they had superannuation
- whether they had life insurance
- whether they owned property
- whether they had significant assets
- whether they had a funeral plan
- whether they had a will
- who their relatives are
That person can still make an application.
The important thing is to provide the information they actually have and be honest about what they don’t know.
The application process exists so that the circumstances can be assessed. You don’t need to turn yourself into an investigator before you are allowed to ask for assistance.
What about the deceased’s bank account?
This is one of the questions that can make the application seem impossible.
The financial section asks for information about bank accounts held solely in the deceased’s name. But the form also provides an option to state:
Deceased has no known bank accounts.
There is an important difference between:
“The deceased had no bank account.”
and
“I don’t know of any bank account.”
Only say what you actually know.
You should not attempt to access the deceased’s bank account simply to complete the application. The form specifically warns that unauthorised withdrawals from a deceased person’s account can affect the application.
What information should I provide?
Provide as much information as you reasonably can.
This may include:
- full name
- date of birth
- date and place of death
- current location of the deceased
- residential address
- occupation
- whether they had a will
- executor’s details, if known
- whether they received government benefits
- known property or significant assets
- known superannuation
- known insurance
- known bank accounts
- known relatives
- why no funeral arrangements have been made
If something is unknown, record it as unknown or explain that the applicant has no knowledge of it.
The important thing is that the information provided is truthful.
What if I’m finding the form difficult?
The form is long and contains information that an ordinary person may find difficult to understand.
You don’t have to work it out alone.
The application itself says that if you need extra help completing it, you can contact your nearest Magistrates Court for general assistance or ask about a short face-to-face information session.
If someone is helping you, they can sit with you, explain the questions and help you write down the information you provide.
The applicant remains responsible for the application and statutory declaration. Don’t sign anything you don’t understand.
What if I’m a friend or neighbour helping?
You don’t necessarily have to be the deceased’s family member to make an individual application.
The form allows an individual applicant who is not the spouse or parent of the deceased.
You can help by:
- explaining what the questions mean
- writing or typing the answers the applicant provides
- helping organise documents
- helping identify what is known and what is unknown
- accompanying the applicant to the Magistrates Court
- helping them ask questions about anything they cannot reasonably answer
You are helping the person navigate the process. You are not required to know things that only the deceased or their family would have known.
What happens if the application needs more information?
You don’t have to answer questions by guessing.
If the applicant genuinely cannot establish something, explain that to the Magistrates Court.
The application is assessed by the relevant government authorities. If further information is required, they can determine what is needed.
The form also provides for recovery of funeral costs from assets belonging to the deceased’s estate if assets are subsequently discovered.
That means the applicant does not need to personally solve every question about the deceased’s estate before making the application.
What happens after the application?
The application is submitted through a Magistrates Court.
The form states that most complete and correct applications are generally processed by the Coroners Court of Queensland in approximately 2–10 business days, although circumstances can affect the timeframe.
If the application is approved, the authorised government-contracted undertaker is provided with the relevant details and contacts the applicant to make arrangements.
Under the Scheme, the applicant does not choose the funeral director or undertaker.
What does the assistance provide?
The scheme provides a basic funeral arrangement.
The form states that assistance includes:
- local collection and transport within the authorised area
- an appropriate coffin
- a calico shroud where clothing is not provided
- an appropriate funeral service at the crematorium or graveside
- death registration
There are limitations.
The applicant cannot choose the location of the funeral or the funeral director, and the government-contracted undertaker cannot provide or charge for upgraded funeral services under the scheme.
For cremation, the applicant is responsible for arranging collection of the ashes.
The important thing
If you are the person who has stepped forward to help, you don’t have to agree to pay for a funeral simply because you are the only person available.
You can make an application.
You can provide the information you have.
You can say when you don’t know something.
You can ask the Magistrates Court for help with the parts you don’t understand.
And you can let the application be assessed.
The complexity of the form should not, by itself, stop you from asking whether assistance is available.
Before you sign anything
If you are unsure whether you can afford the funeral, or whether the deceased may qualify for Funeral Assistance:
Don’t sign a funeral contract just because you feel you have no other option.
Ask about Funeral Assistance first.
The funeral will still need to be dealt with. But there may be a government process available to people who would otherwise be unable to pay.
The first step is simply to find out.
One last thing
Sometimes the person who steps forward is not family.
It might be a neighbour.
A friend.
A workmate.
Someone from the community.
They may simply be the only person who cares enough to make sure something happens.
They shouldn’t have to know everything about the deceased’s life to take that first step.
Tell the Court what you know. Be honest about what you don’t know. And ask for help when the process becomes difficult.
That may be enough to get the process started.