Pink-kittens has provided an important link but your friend needs to be aware that funeral payments often don't cover the full cost of a basic funeral. If funds are really tight it can sometimes be better to simply advise the local council that nobody has the money to pay for a funeral. Under those circumstances the council must arrange a basic funeral. The council can then seek to recover their costs from the estate of the deceased person but, if there's no money in the estate, the council will have to bear the costs.
If following that route, it's essential that everyone refuses to arrange a funeral. The council can't take over funeral arrangements made by someone else. They can only act when nobody else will make the arrangements.
This report has some relevance here:
http://www.citizensad...payingforafuneral.pdf
Chris