In UK if no insurance when you die the state buries or cremates you what does that entail? Is there a funeral?

I have no insurance can't afford it. my kids won't discuss but I want to be cremated and have my ashes scattered on the thames. Will this be possible if the state has to deal with my body after death? We have no savings or income which would cover any funeral arrangements so am more worried about that than I dare tell them. Does anyone know?

wilfred b thank you for your valuable input and to others for trying to help as for those saying 'pay for it' and trying to make me feel worse about things - I am ill and have been to busy struggling to survive until now and raise a family alone so had no way to do anything about insurances (no one will insure you as a young mum who is ill. Over 55's get insurance but have to be paying 2 yrs and then does not cover pre existing ailments such as mine assuming you are going to survive as long as another 2 years.)
all sick and disabled parents are not state scroungers, whenever I was well enough I worked and my family have all paid their dues as dues my teacher son (yes this 'scum' actually managed to get her boy through uni - and teacher training, more important than insurance at the time I thought)

I became involved when a friend died in very poor circumstances, having lived on benefit for many years. The local authority of your place of death (as opposed to your place of residence) has responsibility and I did so appreciate the way in which the official of the London Borough of Camden handled matters. Because her family grave was far away in the North East, it had to be a cremation, but there was a proper funeral and this was paid for by the local authority, with a small contribution from the deceased out of the little bit of money which they found in her flat. They even provided a wreath, which was very touching, saying that this was paid for from her small sum of money. I was told that had the family grave been in London they would have buried her with her little son.

Because she had a surviving brother, he was her official next of kin. He kept well away, not even wanting to be told the date and time of the funeral, and although I wrote to him and begged him to take delivery of the ashes so that they could be scattered on the family grave, I doubt whether he did. Had I known where the family grave was, I would have done it myself. I think that the local authority would have handed them over to me as their point of contact.

I hope that this information helps.

I don't know about cremation, but for burials you would be put in a common grave (plonked on top of other coffins).

my father in law died recently in these circumstances.
in the UK the "state" does help.
there is a form call funeral benefit and if you tell the undertakers that you are claiming for it they will normally wait for payment until this is received. but you may have to make up the difference.
a few undertakers wanted a large amount up front ie拢800 but these were the big firms ie the co-op. we found a small family firm that where very helpful and supportive.

You can be buried in your own back garden.

(((Hugs))) I hadn't realised that this was such an immediate worry for you.

If that's what you want then pay for it......As to the local council they will offer the burial only.....For this you are buried in a plot with others in a basic casket. This is usually only offered if all unemployed as far as i know......

you just inform the undertakers the person was on benefits and thats it the undertakers make all the arrangements the DWP will pay for a basic funeral hearse and and one car plus a certain amount for flowers and and all the crematorion fees and the clergy you may have a problem with a burial unless a grave is available within the family that can be opened.

and to the person who stated they just stack coffins in a mass grave you are completely wrong even a paupers funeral gets basic decency and to the person that said local council what a laugh will only bury you they dont have nothing to do with it at all it is the dept of work and pensions that pays all the fees

and you dont have to scout around for cheapest quotes all the undertakers know the limits set by the DWP and work to the figures agreed imagine going round for cheap quotes for a funeral what a farce

In the UK the government (DSS) has your remainig family / next of kin scout round for quotes from undertakers then they take the cheapest and use that company. You get the choice of burial or cremation so that's ok but if you want a headstone that has to be paid for by your next of kin.
Don't worry about being dumped in a mass grave or anything so horrible. It is a basic coffin and the most basic service affordable but you do get a half way decent send off. Your ashes will then be your familys responsibility to do with as you wish. I hope that has eased your ind a bit,xx.

Dot, get your mind off such things.

You're making me sad. :-]

Get moving swiftly on...

Like a Swan. :-)

((((((((Hugs))))))))

Don't worry the Department of Works and Pensions will pay for you to be cremated, but your relatives may have to contribute a small amount. They will even pay for flowers. I hope you are feeling better about things.

C'mon...don't think about death...!

Hi,there is nothing worse than worrying about how you will buried or cremated.The state will do there best for you.Thanks to reading your mail I am going to take a plan out
to make sure I get what i want.A basic cremation like you I would like my ashes scattered at sea.Your children will be able to scatter them.They will need an urn they can use some thing that you have in the house.I think in this era we have to think of death & what we want doing with our body at least that way we get to get our wish's respected.Now please try to forget & enjoy the rest of your life.Good Luck