I have a friend who is very ill and will probably die within a year or so. He has no family. His biggest possession is a 96 escort. I know Social Security will pay 250.00 for a burial but what will happen when he dies? I am helping to support him while he is alive. I cannot afford to pay for his funeral. I am sure this happens all the time but it is new to me. ( he cannot afford any burial or life insurance)
2007-01-05 02:39:02 · 10 answers · asked by ? 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Where I live it means that the state will take whatever he has and give him a funeral, through a funeral home with the barebones casket and in a section of the cemetary that is reserved for paupers. Its sad but what does it really matter how we are buried. My sympathy to you for your friend and bless you for caring about him.
2007-01-05 02:41:35 · answer #1 · answered by Tom W 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Cremation was usually cheaper. Check into that. Also if he belonged to a church, sometimes they will take up collections for this. Depends if he belonged or not. Maybe if you belong to a group of some sort they would be willing to take up a collection. Even the town might. Even if you don't get a lot of money, some will help. Also talk to a funeral home. They will give you different ways of dealing with it.
He's lucky to have a friend like you. Good friends are the best and very very hard to find. Only a few of us have really true friends. You must be a good one. That makes you an extremely caring and good person. Good for you in these days of such wrong things. You'll be blessed.
2007-01-05 02:51:29 · answer #2 · answered by Me2 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You said you can not afford to pay. My heart goes out to you for your feelings. I have been in the same place myself more than once.
I can say, in my area there were wonderful resources I found by calling my local funeral homes. It took some time to research, and it is best to call or visit when they are not too busy, (that is their business) You have done well by starting the process before the death occurs
1 ) I found embalming is not neccessary in all cases. It depends on laws and regulations in some States, municipalities.
2) With no family to grieve you would not need expensive time for visitation. (about $1000 for one evening here in my area)
3) Ask your friend what their idea of a funeral is. Some people would not mind being in a cheap urn on your mantle. Others think only of a burial in a cemetary.
4) think outside the box... caskets are sooo expensive but on-line their are deals and maybe even alternatives to regular coffens. (I have not research this one only heard others)
5) mostly it is churches that will donate space in cemetaries (check with the church the person may be affiliated to- or maybe where their parents are buried if local)
6) Homeless support staff (your local shelter) may have more ideas.... maybe even know of a person who donates $ to help.
Finally what ever your motives, the fact that you ask your friend and are there with them until the end is way more important than what you do with their remains afterwards. You may be surprised they may want to be donated to a hospital or research lab of sorts (as odd as it sounds the CSI craze has filtered down to people wanting to be given for that type style of research and they do treat the remains with dignity of sorts) Do not judge the way your friend sees their end.
My mother wanted the simpliest funeral. (and I never would have guessed)
I hope this does not effect how you take my answer, today one never can tell.... but God Bless you for caring.
2007-01-05 03:07:12 · answer #3 · answered by chattanooga chip 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What Is A Pauper
2016-10-30 06:20:52 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check with your local government. Does you city have a public cemetery. Also check with the county. Sometimes they pay for funerals of individuals who cannot afford it. Try you local division of family services or division of aging. There are services out there you just have to be resourceful and find them.
Good luck. Sorry to hear about your friend.
2007-01-05 02:43:29 · answer #5 · answered by melirose20 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Social Security pays 250 to the surviving spouse. If you are not a spouse, you won't get that.
I lived in NYC when my sister died. I had no money either. The city gives grants up to 900 to bury/cremate, whatever. Look into your city, they should be able to do it.
2007-01-05 02:45:04 · answer #6 · answered by jayndee13 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a service for one who doesn't have the money /estate to cover the burial costs.If it's an unknown person they maybe interred in a "Potter's field"
2007-01-05 02:48:10 · answer #7 · answered by Vic Timm?? 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you may want to look into creamation.
You wont have a casket, or burial plot, so it should cut down cost.
A loved one's memories will always be with us, whether there is a physical gravestone to look at or not.
2007-01-05 02:42:48 · answer #8 · answered by anonymous w 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it`s a funeral for someone like your friend that the state will pay for if buried they have cemeteries for them
2007-01-05 02:41:22 · answer #9 · answered by lily 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's when they bury you in a cardboard box.
2007-01-05 02:51:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋