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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鈥檙e arranging.

If you live in Scotland

You can . It has replaced Funeral Expenses Payment in Scotland.

If you receive money from the deceased鈥檚 estate

Your Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from any money you get from the deceased鈥檚 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鈥檒l get

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鈥檚 certificate
• travel to arrange or go to the funeral
• the cost of moving the body within the UK, if it鈥檚 being moved more than 50 miles
• death certificates or other documents

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

The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral.

How much you get depends on your circumstances. This includes any other money that鈥檚 available to cover the costs, for example from an insurance policy or the deceased person鈥檚 estate.

Check the claim form notes for full details of what Funeral Expenses Payment covers.

How the money is paid

Funeral Expenses Payment is paid into your bank, building society or credit union account if you鈥檝e already paid for the funeral.

The money will be paid directly to the organiser of the funeral (for example, the funeral director) if you have not paid yet.

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

• you get certain benefits or tax credits
• you meet the rules on your relationship with the deceased
• you鈥檙e arranging a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland

Benefits you must get

You (or your partner) must get one or more of the following:

• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• the disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit

You might also be eligible if you鈥檙e getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.

You can still claim Funeral Expenses Payment if you鈥檝e applied for these benefits and you鈥檙e waiting to hear about your claim.

Rules on your relationship with the deceased

You might be able to get a Funeral Expenses Payment if you are:

• the partner of the deceased
• the parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy
• the parent or person responsible for a deceased child who was under 16 (or under 20 and in approved education or training)

If a close relative of the deceased (such as a sibling or parent) is in work or not getting a qualifying benefit, you might not get a Funeral Expenses Payment.

If you鈥檙e a close relative or friend

You might be able to get a Funeral Expenses Payment if:

• the deceased did not have a partner when they died
• the partner of the deceased or parent of a deceased child cannot claim (for example, they live abroad or are in prison)

You must apply within 6 months of the funeral, even if you鈥檙e waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit.

You can make a claim before the funeral if you鈥檝e got an invoice or signed contract from the funeral director. It cannot be an estimate.

If you get Universal Credit, you will not get a decision on your claim until after your next payment.

How to claim

Claim by phone by calling the Bereavement Service helpline.

An adviser will also help you claim any other bereavement benefits you might be entitled to.

You can also claim by post. Download and fill in the claim form (SF200), then send it to the address on the form.

Appeal a Funeral Expenses Payment decision

You can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal if you disagree with a decision about Funeral Expenses Payment.