What to Do When a Loved One Dies: A Practical Guide

When someone close to you dies, coping with the loss can be incredibly challenging, compounded by the responsibility of making necessary arrangements. This guide aims to help you navigate through this difficult time, answering key questions such as: Who do you need to inform? How do you arrange a funeral? How much will it cost, and how can you afford it? What were the deceased's last wishes? What paperwork is involved? How do you deal with your feelings of shock, loss, and bereavement?

First Steps
If Your Loved One Died at Home: You can ask a funeral director to take them to a chapel of rest.
If They Died in Hospital: They may be taken to the hospital mortuary or hospital chapel of rest until the funeral.

Registering the Death
The death must be registered within five days, usually by a relative. You can contact any register office, but it must be registered in the district where the death occurred. To find a register office, visit www.gov.uk/register-offices.

Documents Needed:
Death certificate
Certificate for burial or cremation (necessary for the funeral)
The registrar will provide a reference number for the government’s Tell Us Once service, which allows you to report a death to most government organizations in one go, including the tax office, passport office, DVLA, and the Department for Work and Pensions. More information can be found at www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once.

Informing Others
You will also need to inform:
GP
Close relatives and friends
The deceased’s employer
Your employer if you need time off

Arranging the Funeral
Most people arrange a funeral through a funeral director, although you can handle it yourself if you prefer. Important decisions include:
The deceased’s wishes about their funeral
Type of funeral: religious, non-religious, humanist, burial, or cremation
Who should be involved in decision-making?
Cost of the funeral
Setting a budget
How the costs will be paid (insurance policy, savings, etc.)

Paying for the Funeral
If you’re on a low income, you might qualify for a funeral payment, a benefit to help cover some of the costs, available if you receive certain benefits such as:
Universal Credit
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Pension Credit
Housing Benefit

Licensed Trade Charity may also consider an application for financial support towards funeral costs through their charity grants. Eligibility requires that the deceased or their partner (who lived with them) worked in the trade for five years or more at some point. For more information, call their free helpline at 0808 801 0550 or email: enquiries@ltcharity.org.uk.

Dealing with Your Emotions Following Bereavement
It is natural to go through various stages of grief, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. No matter which stage you’re in, the Licensed Trade Charity offers a free and confidential helpline to provide emotional support. Speak to one of their counselors who can help you through this challenging time.

Other Sources of Information
Cruse Bereavement Care: Offers counselling and advice for the bereaved. Visit www.cruse.org.uk.
Funeral Directors Register: Provides information on pre-paid funeral plans and a search facility to find a funeral director. Visit www.funeraldirectorsregister.com.
National Association of Funeral Directors: Offers advice on planning funerals and finding a funeral director. Visit www.nafd.org.uk.

Licensed Trade Charity Support
The Licensed Trade Charity is available 24/7 for confidential, free-of-charge support. If you are experiencing any of the issues covered in this guide, contact our helpline on 0808 801 0550. The Helpline Team will listen without judging and work with you to achieve a positive outcome.

For further assistance and support contact the Licensed Trade Charity at:
Phone: 0808 801 0550