Support Payments
We can help relieve your financial burden
We can help with the costs of funerals if certain criteria are met.
Financial help towards a funeral may be possible if you or
your partner planned it in advance and if the deceased had
their main home if the UK.
Additionally, you must either:
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Be a beneficiary of some sort of benefits or entitlements, including Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit (which includes a disability or severe disability element), or Child Tax Credit.
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Live with a council tax payer who gets a Second Adult Rebate because you are on Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, or have a low income.
How it works
You could get a Funeral Expenses Payment (also called a Funeral Payment) if you get certain benefits and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging.
If you receive money from the deceased’s estate
Your Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from any money you get from the deceased’s estate.
The estate includes any money or property they had but not a house or personal things left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner.
What you'll get
Funeral Expenses Payment can help to pay for some of the costs of the following:
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burial fees for a particular plot
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cremation dees, including the cost of the doctors certificate
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travel to arrange or go to the funeral
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the cost of moving your loved one within the UK, if they are being moved more than 50 miles
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death certificates or other documents
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You can also get up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director's fees, flowers or the coffin.
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The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral
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How much you get depends on your circumstances. This includes any other money that's available to cover the costs, for example from an insurance policy or the deceased person's estate.
Check the claim form notes for full details of what Funeral Expenses Payment covers.
How the money is paid
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Funeral Expenses Payment is paid into your bank, building society or credit union account if you've already paid for the funeral
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The money will be paid directly to the person who has organised/paid for the funeral.
Eligibility
To get Funeral Expenses Payment you must:
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get certain benefits or tax credits
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meet the rules on your relationship with the deceased
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be arranging a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
You may be able to get other help to pay for the funeral if you're not eligible for Funeral Expenses Payment
Benefits and tax credits you must get
You (or your partner) must get one or more of the following:
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Income Support
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income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
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income-related Employment and Support Allowance
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Pension Credit
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Housing Benefit
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the disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit
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Child Tax Credit
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Universal Credit
You might also be eligible if you’re getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.
You can still claim Funeral Expenses Payment if you’ve applied for these benefits and you’re waiting to hear about your claim.
If you were responsible for a deceased child but you’re not their parent, the non-resident parent must get one or more of these benefits.
If there’s a close relative of the deceased who is not getting one of these benefits, you might not be able to claim Funeral Expenses Payment.
Rules on your relationship with the deceased
You must be one of the following:
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the partner of the deceased when they died
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a close relative or close friend of the deceased
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the parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy
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the parent or person responsible for a deceased child who was under 16 (or under 20 and in approved education or training)
If the funeral will take place in the EEA or Switzerland
Contact the Social Fund to check if you're eligble
Social Fund
Telephone: 0800 169 0140
Textphone: 0800 169 0286
NGT text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0140
Welsh language: 0800 169 0240
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Get in touch
Call and speak to our professional staff anytime or visit us at our funeral home
in Katherine Drive for confidential help and advice.
A Caring personal service available to you 24 hours a day.