Funeral Expenses Payment

What is a Funeral Expenses Payment?

A Funeral Expenses Payment (sometimes referred to as a Funeral Grant) is a government payment available to people receiving certain qualifying benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral. The payment is designed to help with essential funeral costs, although it may not cover the full cost of a funeral.

Who can claim?

You may be able to claim a Funeral Expenses Payment if:

You are responsible for paying the funeral costs.
The funeral is taking place in England or Wales (or in certain circumstances elsewhere in the UK or EEA).
You or your partner receive a qualifying benefit.

You can apply whether you have already paid the funeral costs or still need to pay them.

Which benefits qualify?

You (or your partner) must usually receive one of the following:

Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Housing Benefit

If you’ve applied for one of these benefits but are still waiting for a decision, you can still make a claim. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may wait until your benefit claim has been decided before making a decision on your Funeral Expenses Payment.

Who is considered responsible for the funeral?

The DWP expects the person claiming to be the person responsible for paying the funeral costs.

This is often:

A husband, wife or civil partner.
A parent.
A son or daughter.
Another close relative.
A close friend where no suitable family member is available.
The parent of a stillborn baby after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
The parent of a child under 16 (or under 20 if they were in approved full-time education).

Who may not qualify?

Even if you are a close relative, you may not be eligible if:

The person who died had a partner at the time of their death
The person who died had a parent, adult son or daughter at the time of their death
Another close relative of the person who died (such as a sibling) was in closer, or as close, contact with them

However, you may still qualify if:

The other relative is also on a qualifying benefit, or
They were estranged from the deceased and not expected to be responsible, or
They fall into one of a number of specific categories (for example, being a full-time student or living outside the UK)

What Does a Funeral Expenses Payment Cover?

A Funeral Expenses Payment can help cover:

Burial or cremation fees
Travel costs for you to arrange or attend the funeral
Moving the body more than 50 miles within the UK
Death certificates or other legal documents necessary to release assets of the person who has died

You may also get up to £1,000 towards other funeral expenses (e.g. funeral director’s fees, flowers, other transport costs).

Will money left by the person who died affect my claim?

The DWP will usually take into account any money left in the deceased’s estate when deciding how much Funeral Expenses Payment can be awarded.

This may include savings, investments or other assets that form part of the estate.

However, money or assets that pass directly to a surviving spouse or civil partner are not normally treated as part of the estate for this purpose.

Will money or other payments affect my Funeral Expenses Payment?

When calculating your Funeral Expenses Payment, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will take into account certain money and payments that are available towards the funeral costs.

This may include:

Money or assets belonging to the person who died that are available without the need for probate or letters of administration.
A lump sum legally payable because of the person’s death from a life insurance policy, occupational pension scheme, burial club or similar arrangement.
A funeral grant paid by the Government for a war disablement pensioner.
Any amount paid or payable under a prepaid funeral plan.

The following are not normally taken into account:

Money held in a joint bank or building society account, as this usually passes automatically to the surviving account holder.
Arrears of most social security benefits that were due to the person who died at the date of death.

If you’re unsure whether money or other payments will affect your claim, our bereavement advisers can explain how the rules apply to your individual circumstances.

When do I need to apply?

You can claim any time from the date of death up to 6 months after the date of the funeral.

Check Your Eligibility

Not sure whether you qualify?

Our Funeral Expenses Payment Calculator can help you understand whether you’re likely to be eligible in just a few minutes.

The calculator will guide you through a series of simple questions and provide an indication of your likely entitlement based on the information you provide.

Need Help?

If you’d like support with your application or you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, our bereavement advisers are here to help.

We can explain the rules, answer your questions and guide you through the Funeral Expenses Payment application process.

Contact Funeral Experts today for free, confidential bereavement support.