The UK Funeral Expenses Payment

What you’ll get

The UK Funeral Expenses Payment usually covers the entire cost of our direct cremation service. If the person who died had a pre-paid funeral plan, you’ll only get up to £120 for items not covered by the plan.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the UK Funeral Expenses Payment you must fulfil the following criteria:

1. Be responsible for the funeral;


2. Either be:
   
   
   
   • a. the partner of the deceased when they died;
   
   
   • b. a close relative of the deceased;
   
   
   • c. a close friend of the deceased.
   
   
   
   


3. You (or your partner) must already be getting one or more of the following benefits or tax credits:
   
   
   
   • a. Income Support;
   
   
   • b. Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance;
   
   
   • c. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance;
   
   
   • d. Pension Credit;
   
   
   • e. Housing Benefit;
   
   
   • f. Child Tax Credit;
   
   
   • g. Universal Credit.
   
   
   
   

You might not be eligible if another close relative of the deceased (such as a sibling or parent) is in work.

How the money is paid

Usually, the money is paid directly to us. If you have already paid for the funeral, the money is paid into your bank account. You’ll usually have to pay back any money you receive from the deceased person’s’ estate (if they have one). 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. If you don’t qualify for a Funeral Expenses Payment you may be able to get help with the cost of a funeral in other ways, eg by using money from the deceased’s bank account.

How to claim

You can make a claim over the phone. 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 as soon as you’ve received an invoice from us.

Want to know more?

For more information:

• Visit https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments.


• Email us your questions at [email protected].


• Call the government helpline shown below (Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 3:30pm):
  
  
  
  • Telephone: 0800 731 0469