Paupers Burials
By the provision of the National Assistance Act 1948, the local
authority is required to make arrangements for the burial of the
dead, "where no other arrangements have been made", in the interest
of public health.
In practice 'Paupers' or 'Parish burials' relate to tramps and
destitute people, but increasingly single people living on state
benefit, with no relatives (or none who wish to pay for a funeral)
come within this type of action.
Persons on income support or benefit can claim full funeral
expenses for another person from the DSS Social Fund, but DSS
currently refuse to pay if the deceased has
received support and the person making the arrangements has
not.