Funeral payments

If you are on a low income and need help arranging the funeral you could get a funeral payment from the social fund.

However you may have to repay some or all of it back from the estate of the person who died.

To qualify for a funeral payment you or your partner (your spouse/civil partner or person you live with as if you were married/civil partners) must get one of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Benefit (or the Council Tax payer where you live gets a Second Adult Rebate because you are on a low income)
  • Working Tax Credit which includes a disability or severe disability element
  • one of the extra elements of Child Tax Credit

You must also be either the:

  • partner
  • parent
  • close relative
  • close friend

of the deceased when they died.

A funeral payment can cover the necessary burial or cremation fees and certain other expenses. Also up to £700 for any other funeral expenses such as the funeral directors fees or a coffin.

You can claim a funeral payment from the date of death and up to 3 months after the date of the funeral.

There is no effect on other benefits from having a funeral payment.

There are also other types of benefits available.

For more information on these as well as funeral payments please visit the GOV.UK website.

Contact Bereavement services

Telephone: 01702 215015/603908

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