Government support with funeral costs

There is some statutory financial support available to help with funeral costs. 

Funeral benefits often cover less than half of the average cost of a funeral in the UK.

To apply you must be responsible for the funeral costs and in receipt of qualifying benefits.

The quickest and easiest way to check your eligibility for the Funeral Expenses Payment (England, Wales & Northern Ireland), is to use our Eligibility Checker.

 

If your financial circumstances were connected to the person who has died, your benefits may have been affected and you may need to make a new application first. If you haven’t already, you could call the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012.

If you are not currently in receipt of benefits, you may now be eligible – you can check by completing a benefits calculation online. Also, take a look at our guide to finances after a bereavement.

Bereavement Support Payment

If you are under state pension age and your partner has died, you may also be eligible for the Bereavement Support Payment. Eligibility varies depending on whether you were married/civil partnered or living together as if you were:

Did you know?

  • Eligibility for funeral payments is dependent on your benefits, not those of the person who has died. 
  • Funeral and bereavement payments are grants and do not need to be paid back. 
  • You can apply in writing or over the phone, and you may be able to apply online for the Bereavement Support Payment - check the links above for more detail. 

Checklist

  1. Do you need to have your benefits reassessed?
  2. Are you eligible for a funeral payment?
  3. Are you eligible for a bereavement support payment for surviving partners?

Hints and tips

Eligibility for a funeral payment is not just dependent on your benefits, it may also rely on the benefit status of other close family members. The government will also need to agree that it is reasonable for you to take responsibility, as opposed to anyone else.

Please see our factsheets for more information:

It is also advisable to read the relevant government guidance notes before completing the application:​

Next - Work related grants

 

Rachael's story

Rachael was arranging her mother’s funeral and felt quite distressed.She completed an application for the Social Fund Funeral Payment over the phone but received a letter stating her claim was rejected. A Down to Earth team member was able to work with Rachael to clarify her situation and the reasons for the rejection. We were able to give the Bereavement Service the information they needed and Rachael’s application was successful.

Frequently asked questions about the Funeral Expenses Payment (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)

What is the Funeral Expenses Payment?

A government grant from the DWP toward the cost of a funeral, intended 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 (e.g. money or property) in their estate, the DWP are entitled to recover the payment from there and will usually attempt to do so.

You can apply for a Funeral Expenses 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. For more detail, see our factsheet.

Who is entitled to it?

The DWP look at several things when deciding whether to issue a funeral payment including:

  • The applicant’s benefits and the benefits of some of the deceased person’s family
  • The type and amount of contact they had with the deceased person

If you are arranging an adult funeral, you can check whether you are eligible to claim the Funeral Expenses Payment using our eligibility checker.
The applicant will usually need to be named on the funeral bill. If they are not, an explanation will need to be given.

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 factsheet for more information.

How do I claim it?

In England and Wales, you can apply by phoning the DWP Bereavement Service Helpline on 0800 151 2012. You can also fill in a paper SF200 form and post it. For textphone, video relay service for British Sign Language users or Welsh language options, visit the DWP website.

In Northern Ireland you can contact the Bereavement Service on 0800 085 2463.  You can also fill in a paper SF200 form and post it. For textphone, or video relay service for British Sign Language users, visit the NI Direct website.

How much will I get?

The main costs the Funeral Expenses Payment contributes towards are as follows:

  • ‘Reasonable’ burial or cremation fees.
  • Up to £1,000 toward 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 £120.
  • 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 died over 50 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 the person who has died left sufficient assets (e.g. money or property) in their estate the DWP 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 the DWP to look at their decision again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration, and you should ask for this within 30 days of the decision. If you miss this deadline, you can still ask for a mandatory reconsideration, 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 ask an independent tribunal to consider an appeal. This should be requested within 30 days of a decision from the mandatory reconsideration.

If the funeral is for an adult, you may want to check eligibility using the Down to Earth eligibility checker.

How long will it take to get payment?

The DWP aim to process Funeral Expenses Payments within 13 working days, though in practice it can take longer.

 

Frequently asked questions about the Funeral Support Payment (Scotland)

How do I get help from Social Security?

You can get help by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222. To use video relay for British Sign Language users, apply online, or by post, visit Social Security Scotland’s website.

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 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.