Families unable to afford to bury their loved ones in the UK.

Run_to_da_hills

Grieving families are leaving loved ones lying in hospital mortuaries for months because they cannot afford to bury them, it has been claimed. Relatives on benefits who have the responsibility of sorting out the funeral are finding the costs too high.

So they are having to leave them in hospital mortuary refrigerators until they can work out how to pay for the service. The average cost of a funeral is over £2,000 but the social welfare cap for funerals is just £700 and has remained unchanged for nine years.

I know funerals in the UK generally take much longer than over here but this is outrageous if true. What is the situation in Ireland if someone cannot afford a funeral / burial service?

DM Readers comment. Sounds familiar.

Storage is being paid for by muggins taxpayers. So not only do we have to pay for the upkeep and accomodation of the benefits classes when they're alive - we also have to pay for them when they're dead!

As has been stated, 700 pounds is on top of the basic costs of the funeral. Clearly all these scroungers want horse drawn hearses and hundreds of novelty wreaths - or why else would they turn their noses up at the basic service they could easily get with the money?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217219/Funeral-costs-Bodies-dead-left-mortuary-months-families-afford-bury-them.html#ixzz29Go8mvSo

ejmaztec

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Grieving families are leaving loved ones lying in hospital mortuaries for months because they cannot afford to bury them, it has been claimed. Relatives on benefits who have the responsibility of sorting out the funeral are finding the costs too high.

So they are having to leave them in hospital mortuary refrigerators until they can work out how to pay for the service. The average cost of a funeral is over £2,000 but the social welfare cap for funerals is just £700 and has remained unchanged for nine years.

I know funerals in the UK generally take much longer than over here but this is outrageous if true. What is the situation in Ireland if someone cannot afford a funeral / burial service?

DM Readers comment. Sounds familiar.


Storage is being paid for by muggins taxpayers. So not only do we have to pay for the upkeep and accomodation of the benefits classes when they're alive - we also have to pay for them when they're dead!

As has been stated, 700 pounds is on top of the basic costs of the funeral. Clearly all these scroungers want horse drawn hearses and hundreds of novelty wreaths - or why else would they turn their noses up at the basic service they could easily get with the money?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217219/Funeral-costs-Bodies-dead-left-mortuary-months-families-afford-bury-them.html#ixzz29Go8mvSo

Green bin?

seanmacc

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Grieving families are leaving loved ones lying in hospital mortuaries for months because they cannot afford to bury them, it has been claimed. Relatives on benefits who have the responsibility of sorting out the funeral are finding the costs too high.

So they are having to leave them in hospital mortuary refrigerators until they can work out how to pay for the service. The average cost of a funeral is over £2,000 but the social welfare cap for funerals is just £700 and has remained unchanged for nine years.

I know funerals in the UK generally take much longer than over here but this is outrageous if true. What is the situation in Ireland if someone cannot afford a funeral / burial service?

DM Readers comment. Sounds familiar.

Storage is being paid for by muggins taxpayers. So not only do we have to pay for the upkeep and accomodation of the benefits classes when they're alive - we also have to pay for them when they're dead!

As has been stated, 700 pounds is on top of the basic costs of the funeral. Clearly all these scroungers want horse drawn hearses and hundreds of novelty wreaths - or why else would they turn their noses up at the basic service they could easily get with the money?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217219/Funeral-costs-Bodies-dead-left-mortuary-months-families-afford-bury-them.html#ixzz29Go8mvSo

If you can't afford a funeral over here the state pays for a burial and put you in an unmarked grave. They used to put you into the vaults in Glasnevin.

MagicSean

Don't you mean state won't pay for religious ceremony? I can't imagine a cremation, small gathering and an urn would cost over £700 for us that aren't going to heaven.

4zn76tysfajdxp

MagicSean wrote: »

Don't you mean state won't pay for religious ceremony? I can't imagine a cremation, small gathering and an urn would cost over £700 for us that aren't going to heaven.

It's even cheaper if you do it yourself and use a Dolmio jar for the urn.

minidazzler

Mariah Whining Hairdressing wrote: »

It's even cheaper if you do it yourself and use a Dolmio jar for the urn.

Don't keep it near your spices unlabeled...that was an awkward dinner in my nan's house.

Gran Hermano

ejmaztec wrote: »

Green bin?

I'd say brown bin, green is recycling whilst brown is composting and organic waste.

Grayson

MagicSean wrote: »

Don't you mean state won't pay for religious ceremony? I can't imagine a cremation, small gathering and an urn would cost over £700 for us that aren't going to heaven.

You'd be surprised. My father passed away after a stroke. But there was a post mortem done. This meant that the body had to be kept in a body bag (more money) and then presented in a coffin. We went for the cheapest one because a) he would have thought anything else was a waste of money and b) he was going to be cremated. c) it was wicker and he was an enviromentalist.

But the whole thing all together cost about €2000

mikemac1

Whole thing is a racket

In Dublin anyway a lot of the directors are from the same family.
They say they compete with each other but do they realy?


Anyway, the government cares
850 euro grant available to meet the costs

OneArt

minidazzler wrote: »

Don't keep it near your spices unlabeled...that was an awkward dinner in my nan's house.

Puts a new spin on having relatives for dinner.

Dave0301

If breaking bad has taught me anything it's that a plastic tub and hydrofluoric acid will solve all your body disposal needs!

Grayson

Dave0301 wrote: »

If breaking bad has taught me anything it's that a plastic tub and hydrofluoric acid will solve all your body disposal needs!

and your floor.

Kinzig

There was actually a case in Donegal once, way back , when a man died and there was no money to bury him, his body was left lying over the graveyard wall and the catholic church out of shame paid for his burial..

wmpdd3

Dave0301 wrote: »

If breaking bad has taught me anything it's that a plastic tub and hydrofluoric acid will di-solve all your body disposal needs!

.

ejmaztec

Gran Hermano wrote: »

I'd say brown bin, green is recycling whilst brown is composting and organic waste.

Brown or green? It's a bit of a grey area, there might be some organs for recycling, shame to waste them.

Milk & Honey

In the nineteenth century a solicitor died in Dublin. There was no money to bury him and a fund was set up with subscribers asked to contribute a shilling each towards the costs of burial. When the Lord Chancellor was asked to contribute he said "A shilling to bury a solicitor? Here is a guinea, go and bury another 20 of them!"

Nodin

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I know funerals in the UK generally take much longer than over here but this is outrageous if true. What is the situation in Ireland if someone cannot afford a funeral / burial service?

DM....

They lose weight, and when they get a pain in their arse, they get themselves a tracksuit and take up residence in and around o'connell st.

ejmaztec

MagicSean wrote: »

Don't you mean state won't pay for religious ceremony? I can't imagine a cremation, small gathering and an urn would cost over £700 for us that aren't going to heaven.

Even a non-religious funeral can be spun for big bucks when the funeral director's livelihood is at stake.

BrokenArrows

I dont understand why people pay big money for a funeral.

When i die its going to be simply chuck me into the ground and cover it up. No paying money for a nicely carved box that goes into the ground.

padd b1975

Kinzig wrote: »

There was actually a case in Donegal once, way back , when a man died and there was no money to bury him, his body was left lying over the graveyard wall and the catholic church out of shame paid for his burial..

:eek:

Link?

SEPT 23 1989

Do we not have paupers graves anymore?

Since when do funerals have to be paid for up front?

Kinzig

padd b1975 wrote: »

:eek:

Link?

I dont have a link for it but it was common knowledge amongst older people back in the eighties, I heard the story recounted several times by locals back then, even today the SVDP takes care of burials so nothings changed.

Irish Guitarist

Funerals are a scam. I hate the advertisements they have with the likes of Michael Aspel saying "don't leave your loved ones in debt having to pay for your funeral expenses". Piss off. Life is hard enough without worrying about what happens afterwards.

As well as the cost of the coffin in this country families feel like they have to go to the pub afterwards and spend an absolute fortune on drinks and sandwiches for the 'mourners'.

In Carlow there's even a pub and funeral home owned by the same people which are right next door to each other. You go in to look at your loved one lying in the coffin and then go next door to get drinks. It makes me sick.

When my father died the thoughts of things like this depressed me even further.

Paying for a coffin which then goes six feet under the ground and never seen again is an absolute waste. Cremation is a waste too as you're still put in a coffin which is then incinerated.

When I die I want someone to dig a hole in the ground, throw me into it, and then fill it back up with dirt. Either that or leave my corpse somewhere where wild animals can eat it.

ejmaztec

BrokenArrows wrote: »

I dont understand why people pay big money for a funeral.

When i die its going to be simply chuck me into the ground and cover it up. No paying money for a nicely carved box that goes into the ground.

That's why a lot of tight-fisted people check the jobs wanted ads, in the hope that they find a serial killer looking for work.

Kinzig

When I die I want someone to dig a hole in the ground, throw me into it, and then fill it back up with dirt. Either that or leave my corpse somewhere where wild animals can eat it

Its a sky burial you want

Kinzig

Kinzig wrote: »

Its a sky burial you want

I thought that was what happened to TV personalities when their fame on the main channels had faded.

Irish Guitarist

Kinzig wrote: »

Its a sky burial you want

Last year I saw a documentary on the Tibetan Book Of The Dead. Their attitude to death, including burying their loved ones on mountain tops for vultures or other animals to eat, seemed healthier than what we have here.

Kinzig

Deleted User wrote: »

I thought that was what happened to TV personalities when their fame on the main channels had faded.

Thats the UK version of it:P

Kinzig

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

Last year I saw a documentary on the Tibetan Book Of The Dead. Their attitude to death, including burying their loved ones on mountain tops for vultures or other animals to eat, seemed healthier than what we have here.

I think so, its shows they are more in touch with nature than we are I think..

1ZRed

Milk & Honey wrote: »

In the nineteenth century a solicitor died in Dublin. There was no money to bury him and a fund was set up with subscribers asked to contribute a shilling each towards the costs of burial. When the Lord Chancellor was asked to contribute he said "A shilling to bury a solicitor? Here is a guinea, go and bury another 20 of them!"

Ha! Indeed.

*swirls brandy*

Immaculate Pasta

This happened to a friend of mine. His Mum, after a long battle with drink and drugs, died at 47. She had no husband or money to her name so he had to pay for the funeral himself. He's only 24. The funeral cost him a little over £2000 which was all the money he had. I felt very sorry for him. Firstly losing your Mum and then becoming broke at the same time.

Capt'n Midnight

Kinzig wrote: »

There was actually a case in Donegal once, way back , when a man died and there was no money to bury him, his body was left lying over the graveyard wall and the catholic church out of shame paid for his burial..

padd b1975 wrote: »

:eek:

Link?

https://donegaldollop.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/hbo-to-produce-new-show/

HBO To Produce US Remake of C.U. Burn
...
This Donegal Dollop reporter got a sneak peek at the US series’ synopsis and can reveal the only noticeable alterations to the beloved 30-minute comedy series are:

The changing of the lead characters’ names, Charlie, Vincie, and Pádraig, to Chuck, Vic, and Pedro.
The inclusion of a talking hearse that helps them solve crimes.

purplepanda

£1000 in cemetery charges just to open an old family grave for a new burial in London nowadays! :eek:

Boombastic

What the Irish state spent in 2011 Pg 47 of this report


Table C17: Expenditure on Exceptional Needs Payments, Other Exceptional Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments and Urgent Needs Payments, 2011



Type of Payment,

Funeral

Expenditure €000,
Funeral Expenses 5,116
Burial Expenses 370


Total Expenditure €000
5,486


Why are funerals and burials costing so much?



and under it the amount of money the state spent on prams in 2011, for anyone that's interested:)

golden lane

it is the duty of the state to dispose of the dead......

if you want frills........you pay for them....

anncoates

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

Last year I saw a documentary on the Tibetan Book Of The Dead. Their attitude to death, including burying their loved ones on mountain tops for vultures or other animals to eat, seemed healthier than what we have here.

As opposed to being buried for worms to eat?

Or do the corpse-eating fauna in your students union classic just sound cooler?

thebman

Solution: Use fire and cremate.

You'd be surprised how many day to day problems can be solved by just adding a little sparkle of fire

starbelgrade

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

Funerals are a scam. I hate the advertisements they have with the likes of Michael Aspel saying "don't leave your loved ones in debt having to pay for your funeral expenses". Piss off. Life is hard enough without worrying about what happens afterwards.

Everyone dies & people need to be responsible - that includes making sure that they have money put aside to pay for the cost of their burial or cremation instead of dumping the cost onto relatives. Life is hard enough without worrying about the cost of your relatives kicking the bucket.

admiralofthefleet

is there a clause in the convention for human rights that says you are entitled to a burial? or something

Run_to_da_hills

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

is there a clause in the convention for human rights that says you are entitled to a burial? or something

There might be but the time limit on the burial may be another story.

Muslims are usually buried within 24 hours, I wonder how they would fair out if they were on in that situation.

Cremations are also forbidden within some reformed Christians circles.

golden lane

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

is there a clause in the convention for human rights that says you are entitled to a burial? or something

yes, health and safety for the rest of the population....


"bring out your dead"..........

Mr Benevolent

ejmaztec wrote: »

Green bin?

Brown bin surely.

who the fug

One thing I look forward to, is sticking the tax man with the disposal of my corpse.

keithclancy

http://www.greencoffinsireland.com/pet-coffins.html

Even fido can get a coffin.

keithclancy

keithclancy wrote: »

http://www.greencoffinsireland.com/pet-coffins.html

Even fido can get a coffin.

While the goldfish gets to inspect the plumbing!

Davidth88

Interesting , this came out today

Undertakers profits are up !

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/undertakers-still-on-up-despite-fall-in-deaths-3258955.html

I am in the , cardboard coffin , back of the car , stick me in the oven brigade .

Save the money for a damn good get together afterwards.

zagmund

My plan is to be cremated, put in a paper bag, brought out into Dublin Bay at low tide, and left there just before the tide starts coming back in. I may need to be weighed down a little at this point.

The crew who turn up can then retreat to above the high tide mark, set up the deck chairs, have a few drinks, watch the tide come in and see me off that way.

This may not work so well in the depths of Winter, but it would be a grand oul way to be seen off in the Summer.

z

Capt'n Midnight

With the growing population and increase in food prices is there something to be said for soylent green ?

Capt'n Midnight

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

With the growing population and increase in food prices is there something to be said for soylent green ?

But, which would you prefer? Lamb or Mutton!

The output of your average nursing home would be pretty unappetizing!

DylanII

Grayson wrote: »

But the whole thing all together cost about €2000

How did it only cost €2000?

When my grandfather died the funeral cost a little over €14,000