Help with funeral costs

What is the Funeral Expenses Payment?

Funeral Expenses Payment is a payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help with some of the costs of paying for a funeral. It is for people living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, who are getting certain benefits.

If you live in Scotland, see the information about Funeral Support Payment below.

The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral – you might still have to pay for some or most of it yourself. But it can help with burial or cremation fees, travel to the funeral, death certificates and the costs of moving the body.

Do I have to pay back the Funeral Expenses Payment?

You will only need to repay the government if you get money from the person's estate (anything the person owned when they died, like money, property or shares).

Can I claim Funeral Expenses Payment?

You can claim Funeral Expenses Payment if all of the following apply:

• you get certain benefits or tax credits, and
• you meet the rules on your relationship with the person who's died, and
• you're arranging a funeral in the UK, or, in some circumstances, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. Read about the EEA at GOV.UK.  

Benefits and tax credits

You (or your partner if you have one) must be getting at least one of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit – the disability or severe disability element.

You might also be eligible if you're getting a support for a Mortgage Interest loan.

You can still claim a Funeral Expenses Payment if you've applied for one of these benefits and you're waiting for a decision on your claim. However, The Department for Work and Pensions may delay making a decision on your Funeral Expenses Payment application, until your entitlement to the other benefit has been decided.

Your relationship with the person who has died

You must have had a certain relationship with the person who has died. You must either have been:

• their partner
• a close relative or close friend – see the claim form notes for who this includes at GOV.UK  
• the parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy
• the parent of a child who was under 16 (or under 20 and in approved education or training).

It must also be reasonable for you to accept responsibility for the funeral costs, because you were in regular contact with the person who has died.

If the person who died had a close relative who is not getting one of the benefits above or is in work, you may not be able to receive a Funeral Expenses Payment.

How much is Funeral Expenses Payment?

The amount you get will depend on your circumstances. This includes any other money that's available to cover the costs, for example from an insurance policy or the person's estate.

What does Funeral Expenses Payment cover?

Funeral Expenses Payment can help pay for some of the costs of the following:

• burial fees for a particular plot
• cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor's certificate
• travel to arrange or go to the funeral
• the cost of moving the body within the UK, if it's being moved more than 50 miles
• death certificates or other documents.

You can also get up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director's fees, flowers or the coffin.

If the person had a pre-paid funeral plan, you can only get up to £120 to help pay for items not covered by their plan.

The claim form notes have full details of what Funeral Expenses Payment covers. View the claim form notes at GOV.UK.  

How is Funeral Expenses Payment paid?

If you've already paid for the funeral, the money will go into your bank account. If you have not paid for the funeral yet, the payment will go directly to the funeral director, or whoever is organising the funeral.

How do I claim Funeral Expenses Payment?

1. Check you're eligible for Funeral Expenses Payment.

2. Apply – how you apply depends on where you live.

If you live in England or Wales:

• Apply by phone: call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012; Welsh language: 0800 731 0453; textphone: 0800 731 0464; Welsh language textphone: 0800 731 0456; Relay UK 18001 then 0800 151 2012; or visit GOV.UK   to access the British Sign Language video relay service.
• Apply by post: download the form from GOV.UK   and send it to the address on the form.

If you live in Northern Ireland:

• Apply by phone: call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 085 2463, or visit nidirect  to access the British and Irish Sign Language video relay service. 
• Apply by post: download the form from nidirect   and send it to the address on the form.
• If you're transgender you could also email: Knockbreda.makethecall.scr@dfcni.gov.uk. 

You must apply within six months of the person's funeral. This includes if you're waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit.

You can make a claim before the funeral takes place if you have an invoice or signed contract from the funeral director. It cannot be an estimate.

Funeral Support Payment in Scotland

If you live in Scotland, Funeral Expenses Payment has been replaced by Funeral Support Payment. Funeral Support Payment is a one-off payment from Social Security Scotland which helps cover some of the costs of a funeral if you're on a low income.

To receive it:

• you must normally live in Scotland
• you (or your partner, if you have one) must normally get one of the benefits listed above
• you must have accepted responsibility for paying for the funeral
• you must be named on the funeral bill.

Find out more about who is eligible and how to claim Funeral Support Payment at mygov.scot.  

Other help with funeral costs

If it's not possible to pay for the funeral from the deceased person's estate, family and friends are usually expected to pay for it.

The Money Helper website   has some useful advice on ways of reducing funeral costs.

Here are some other things to consider:

• A funeral director may agree to accept payment by instalments, but it's a good idea to check with them first. Some funeral directors ask for a deposit to cover third-party costs, payable in advance of the funeral (disbursements).
• There are a few charities that will help with funeral expenses, such as the Child Funeral Charity   and Friends of the Elderly.  
• If you're struggling to pay for the funeral or your only source of money is a Funeral Expenses Payment, tell the funeral director before you commit to any arrangements. They can advise you on what to do.

Paying for a child's funeral

Across the UK, there may be extra financial help if the person who died was a young person, child or a stillborn baby. Find out more from:

• GOV.UK – Children's Funeral Fund for England  
• GOV.WALES – help with child funeral costs in Wales  
• Child Funeral Charity – provides more financial support in England and Wales  
• mygov.scot – Funeral Support Payment for someone aged 17 or under in Scotland  

There may be other support available – check with your funeral director, council or local authority, or government website.

Support when someone dies

Sorting out practical things when someone dies can be difficult. You can find more information and support in our online information resources on when someone dies, or you could download our booklet: When someone dies. Or you can call Marie Curie's Support Line on 0800 090 2309.

Find out about Marie Curie's Bereavement Support Service.

Where can I get more help?

The benefits system can be complicated, so it's important you have the right information and advice. Here are some organisations that can provide further support:

• Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 provides general information about benefits and finances.
• Citizens Advice   has trained advisers you can speak to and provides information on your rights, including benefits, housing, employment, debt, consumer and legal issues. Search the site for your nearest bureau in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Turn2us   has a search function to find benefits advisers in your area, and provides people with financial support and information on benefits and grants.
• Macmillan Cancer Support   has welfare rights advisers you can speak to, and provides practical, medical and financial support for people affected by cancer.

Here at Marie Curie we cannot provide information about your specific benefit claim. For all queries about claims, you'll need to contact the relevant government department.

See our list of useful organisations for more places to go for benefits advice and information.

Useful websites

GOV.UK - Funeral Expenses Payment in England and Wales  

nidirect - Funeral Expenses Payment in Northern Ireland  

mygov.scot - Funeral Support Payment in Scotland   

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About this information

This information is not intended to replace any advice from health or social care professionals. We suggest that you consult with a qualified professional about your individual circumstances. Read more about how our information is created and how it's used.