Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about the Funeral Support Payment, available in Scotland.
What is the Funeral Support Payment?
A government grant from Social Security Scotland toward the cost of a funeral for people on qualifying benefits. The person making the claim doesn’t need to pay this back but if the deceased person left sufficient assets in their estate, Social Security Scotland are entitled to recover the payment from there and will usually attempt to do so.
You can apply for a Funeral Support Payment even if you do not use a funeral director. The full amount is unlikely to cover even the cost of a simple funeral, so you are likely to have a shortfall.
Who is entitled to it?
You can apply for the Funeral Support Payment if you live in Scotland and you, or your partner, are receiving a qualifying benefit. In assessing your application, Social Security Scotland will ask why you have taken responsibility for the cost of the funeral.
The person who has died must have lived in the UK and their funeral be taking place in the UK, European Economic Area, or Switzerland. You, or your partner, must be responsible for the funeral costs, and you must apply for it within 6 months of the date of the funeral.
The benefits considered for eligibility are Universal Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit. You might also be eligible if you’re getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.
See our Funeral Support Payment (Scotland) factsheet for more detailed information.
How do I claim it?
You can phone Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222. You can also apply online, or fill in a paper form and post it. For textphone, or video relay service for users of British Sign Language, visit Social Security Scotland’s website.
How much will I get?
The main costs the Funeral Support Payment contributes towards are as follows:
- Burial, Cremation or Alkaline Hydrolysis costs
- £1,279.15 towards other funeral expenses (generally those covered under funeral director’s fees or, if you are making your own arrangements, costs such as the coffin). If the person who has died had a pre-paid funeral plan, this amount is capped at £156.10.
- Death certificates to release money belonging to the person who died
- One return journey to arrange or attend the funeral (not including the cost of a funeral car or limousine to transport mourners)
- In some circumstances, transport costs if you need to move the person who has died over 49.7 miles (80 kilometres)
The amount will be reduced by any money in the deceased person’s estate that is available without probate or letters of administration (except money held as a ‘joint tenancy’ – a joint account where both people pay in and neither has restrictions on withdrawing). However, arrears of benefits paid in on the date of death or afterwards should not be deducted.
Do I have to pay it back?
The person making the claim doesn’t need to pay this back, but if a person had sufficient assets in their estate Social Security Scotland are entitled to recover the payment from there and will usually attempt to do so.
What if I don't agree with the decision?
You can ask for your application to be looked at again. This is called a re-determination, and you should request this within 31 days of the decision. If you miss this deadline, you can still ask for a re-determination, but you'll have to explain why you missed it. If you still don’t agree with the decision after it has been looked at again, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security Chamber) within 31 days of the re-determination.
How long will it take to get the payment?
Once Social Security Scotland have received all the documents they have asked for, they aim to contact you within 10 working days, although in practice, this can take longer.
For answers to common questions about other ways to raise money towards funeral costs, and other topics, you can return to the main FAQ menu.
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