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Indigent Deaths

Through its Vital Records Office, Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) provides financial assistance for the cremation of deceased people:

  • who have no known next of kin and who leave insufficient funds for their final disposition, or
  • whose next of kin cannot afford—or choose not—to be responsible for final disposition.

Cremation is a socially acceptable and dignified process for the disposition of human remains. SLCoHD has contracted with a local mortuary for cremation services for indigent decedents.

Both the decedent and the applicant (the next of kin or person responsible for the decedent) must meet eligibility criteria to be considered indigent for the purposes of indigent cremation services.

Applicants agree that cremation at SLCoHD's expense will be conducted by the contracted mortuary. If the decedent is a victim of a homicide, at SLCoHD's discretion the remains may be buried at the county's expense in a plot designated and paid for by SLCoHD.

SLCoHD is the payor of last resort and will not pay for:

  • any funeral or memorial service
  • an urn or container for the cremains
  • costs of interment or burial
  • costs for the transportation of the cremains to a final resting place

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No Next of Kin

To be considered indigent for the purposes of indigent cremation services, a decedent with no known next of kin must meet all criteria below.

A decedent is considered indigent if they have no known next of kin and:

  1. Died within the confines of Salt Lake County.
  2. Had an annual individual income of less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
  3. Maintained no life insurance, burial insurance, or prepaid funeral plan.

Types of income and benefits of the decedent that we will evaluate, and the acceptable documentation required for each type:

Income Type Acceptable Documentation
Wages/Salary (from formal employment)

1 month's earnings dated within 2 months of date of death for all jobs, OR
Most recent tax statements or W-2
Self Employment IRS Form 1040 and Schedule C or Schedule E for most recent tax filing period

Social Security Income
Veterans Benefits
Alimony

 Current year benefit letter or other official documentation

Capital Gains
Stocks
Bonds
Cash
Dividends
Trust
Investment Income

 Tax documentation for most recent period or documentation from financial institution
Retirement (Pensions, Annuities, 401K, etc.) Current benefit statement
Public Assistance/Unemployment Unemployment statement, OR
Award letter or paystubs, OR
General Assistance Letter from DWS for current period
Rental Income Current rental agreement(s), OR
Tax documentation or other official documentation
Other Income Variable; consult with Vital Records Office

With Next of Kin

To be considered indigent for the purposes of indigent cremation services, a decedent with identified next of kin and their next of kin must meet all criteria below.

A decedent is considered indigent if they:

  • Died within the confines of Salt Lake County.
  • Had an annual individual income of less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
  • Maintained no life insurance, burial insurance, or prepaid funeral plan.

And their next of kin:

  • Household* annual income is less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
  • Maintains no life insurance, burial insurance, or prepaid funeral plan for the decedent; OR
  • Is unwilling to take responsibility for the remains, and neither will any friend or other individual or organization.

*Household is defined as individual(s) with a legal obligation to the decedent or all adult family members residing in the same location as the decedent.

Types of income and benefits of the decedent, the applicant, and the applicant's household that we will evaluate, and the acceptable documentation required for each type:

Income Type Acceptable Documentation
Wages/Salary (from formal employment)

1 month's earnings dated within 2 months of date of death for all jobs, OR
Most recent tax statements or W-2
Self Employment IRS Form 1040 and Schedule C or Schedule E for most recent tax filing period

Social Security Income
Veterans Benefits
Alimony

 Current year benefit letter or other official documentation

Capital Gains
Stocks
Bonds
Cash
Dividends
Trust
Investment Income

 Tax documentation for most recent period or documentation from financial institution
Retirement (Pensions, Annuities, 401K, etc.) Current benefit statement
Public Assistance/Unemployment Unemployment statement, OR
Award letter or paystubs, OR
General Assistance Letter from DWS for current period
Rental Income Current rental agreement(s), OR
Tax documentation or other official documentation
Other Income Variable; consult with Vital Records Office