Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment, which is available in England, Wales and 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 Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment factsheet for more detailed 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 our digital Funeral Expenses Payment 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.
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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