Funeral Expenses Payment

Overview

A Funeral Expenses Payment is a government scheme for people on a low income who are receiving certain benefits to help them pay for a funeral. It can often be referred to as a Funeral Grant.

Eligibility

You (or your partner) must be getting one of the following qualifying benefits:

-Universal Credit
-Income Support
-Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
-Income related Employment and Support Allowance
-Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings)
-Housing Benefit
-Disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit
-Child Tax Credit which includes a child element

If one of the above benefits is claimed and backdated to cover the period when the Funeral Expenses Payment is claimed, this is acceptable. The DWP will usually defer making a decision on a Funeral Expenses Payment if they are aware one of the above benefits has been claimed but the decision is still pending.

Accepting responsibility for the funeral costs

To qualify for a Funeral Expenses Payment, you or your partner must ‘accept responsibility’ for the funeral costs, even if you do not make the arrangements.

Relationship

To claim you must be either:

– the partner of the person who died
– parent, son or daughter of the person who died
– the close friend or relative of the person who died
– the parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy
– the parent of a child who has died who was under 16, or under 20 and in full-time approved education.

Exclusions

You may be excluded from claiming a Funeral Expenses Payment even if you are a close relative. For example, if they had a partner, or a close relative who was in closer contact with the deceased, or there is another close relative who is not in receipt of benefits.

What does a Funeral Expenses Payment cover?

A 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 £1000 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.

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.

When should I claim?

You must claim within 6 months of the date of death.

Can Funeral Experts advise me on eligibility?

Our bereavement advisors are trained to advise you on eligibility for Funeral expenses Payment. Call us now to find out more.