Financial Support for Funerals - Help with Funeral Costs

If you are on a low income, and have difficulty paying for the funeral, there are several ways that you may be able to get some financial support.

A DWP funeral claim can help individuals already receiving certain benefits, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offers a Funeral Expenses Payment – a form of financial support to help cover essential funeral costs.

Eligibility

You can get a Funeral Expenses Payment if all of the following apply:

  • you get certain benefits

  • you meet the rules on your relationship with the deceased

  • you’re arranging a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland

Benefits you must get

You (or your partner) must get one or more of the following:

  • Universal Credit

  • Income Support

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  • Pension Credit

  • Housing Benefit

You might also be eligible if you’re getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.

A Funeral expenses payment can help to pay for some of the costs of the following. Burial fees, cremation fees, including doctors certificates if issued, travel to arrange or go to the funeral, cost of moving deceased within the U.K, 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 directors 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.

​Everyone deserves a dignified funeral, regardless of their financial situation, and that is our aim. If you will have difficulty paying for the funeral, let us know, we will be able to help and advise. We can help you keep costs to a minimum, whilst ensuring a respectful funeral.

DWP Funeral Expenses Form
Bereavement Support Payment

From April 2017, bereavement benefits changed and the 'Bereavement Support Payment' was introduced.

You may be able to get 'Bereavement Support Payment' if your husband, wife or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017.

​If your husband, wife or civil partner died before 6th April 2017 you may be entitled to;

  • 'Bereavement Payment'

  • 'Bereavement Allowance'

  • 'Widowed Parent's Allowance' (if you are bringing up children)

  • 'Bereavement Support Payment' wont affect your benefits for a year after your first payment. After a year, payment you have left over could affect the amount of benefit you're eligible for.

You must tell your benefits office (for example, your local Jobcentre plus) when you start getting 'Bereavement Support Payment'. You can apply by completing a form or by telephone.

There are also Budgeting loans available from the Department of Work and Pensions.

You have to have been on certain benefits for six months and there are certain other criteria that have to be met.

Please contact your local Jobcentre Plus or Department of work and pensions for more details.

To enquire about claiming either of these benefits please call the Bereavement Service helpline Telephone: 0800 151 2012, they can start your claim on the day if you telephone, or they can send you a form by post.

Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 731 0469

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use this service. Alternatively contact us on 0114 2457913 and we can advise you.