Help towards funeral costs 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:


• 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 £700 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s 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’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.


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


How the money is paid


Funeral Expenses Payment is paid into your bank, building society or credit union account if you’ve 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.


Eligibility


To get Funeral Expenses Payment you must: • get certain benefits or tax credits • meet the rules on your relationship with the deceased • be arranging a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland


You might 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 be in receipt of


• Income Support • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance • Pension Credit • Housing Benefit • The disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit • Child Tax Credit • Universal Credit


Rules on your relationship with the deceased You must be one of the following:


• The partner of the deceased when they died • A close relative or close friend of the deceased • Make a claim


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


You can make a claim before the funeral if you’ve got an invoice from the funeral director. You cannot make a claim if you’ve only been given 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. Telephone: 0800 731 0469 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm


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, 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.


Other Benefits you may be eligible for • Widowed Parent’s Allowance • Widowed Parent’s Allowance • War Widow(er) Pension


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.


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