Funeral payments
What is it?
Funeral payments help people on a low income with the essential costs of a funeral. You do not have to repay a funeral payment but it can however be recovered from the estate of the person who died.
Do I qualify?
You can claim a funeral payment if it is reasonable for you or your partner to take responsibility for the funeral costs and you are getting any of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element, or
- Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award.
Your capital (for example, savings) does not affect a funeral payment.
You can claim a funeral grant if you are a close friend and not a relative, providing there are no other relatives who could take responsibility.
Warning
Even if you have taken responsibility for the funeral, there is no guarantee that you will receive a funeral payment if the DWP thinks that there is another relative who could take responsibility, and who does not receive a qualifying benefit. For example, there might be another relative who was not as close as you, but who was not estranged.
However, it is up to the DWP to prove that there is another relative who could take responsibility.
To find out whether you could qualify, you can contact the Benefits Maximisation Service for a full benefits check.
How much is it?
A funeral payment will cover the costs of a simple, respectful, low cost funeral within the UK. Payments may be affected by a pre-paid funeral plan. It can include:
- the costs of a new burial plot or the costs of cremation
- the cost of transporting the body to a funeral home or other place of rest, but only if the journey is over 50 miles. If the journey is over 50 miles, only the part of the journey over 50 miles will be paid for
- the cost of transporting the hearse and one car of mourners to the funeral, but only if the journey is over 50 miles. If the journey is over 50 miles, only the part of the journey over 50 miles will be paid for
- the cost of one return journey for you to attend or arrange the funeral
- the cost of getting documents to release the assets of the person who has died.
A funeral payment can also include a further £700 for other expenses, including:
- the funeral director's fees
- a headstone
- flowers
- extra religious requirements.
If there is a private funeral payment plan, there is a limit of £120 for any of these other expenses that are not already covered by the funeral plan.
A funeral payment will be reduced by any available assets of the person who has died. This means any resources they had which can be used to pay towards the funeral, for example:
- lump sum insurance payments
- pension scheme payments
- contributions towards funeral expenses from charities or relatives
- any money paid out under a pre-paid funeral plan.
Even if you get a full payment from the Social Fund to cover funeral expenses, the Department of Work and Pensions may recover all or part of it from the estate later on.
How do I apply?
You can claim a funeral payment from the date of death up to three months after the date of the funeral, even if you have already paid the funeral bill.
You can apply:
- on form SF200, available from your Jobcentre Plus office, or
- on-line at www.dwp.gov.uk. You will need to print the form in order to sign it.
You have to have a funeral director's bill to apply for a funeral payment, and you will need to provide this with your claim. Funeral payments are usually paid by cheque made out in the funeral director's name. The cheque is sent to you so you can give it to the funeral director.
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
What if I am not satisfied with the decision?
If you are refused a payment or think it should have been paid at a higher rate you can write asking for a revision within one month from the date on the decision. This means that a different Decision Maker will look at your claim again.
It is a very important that you reply within one month, as you may not be able to challenge the decision otherwise.
If you are still unsatisfied once the revision has taken place you can ask to have your case heard by an independent appeal tribunal. This usually has to be a form called a GL24, which is available from any DWP office. You can also ask the DWP to post one to you. Again, you must make your appeal within one month of the date of the revision.
Our Benefits Maximisation Service can help you with revisions and appeals.
What if my circumstances change?
Your entitlement to a Funeral Payment can only be considered based on your circumstances at the time of your claim. If your circumstances have change, so that you now qualify for a payment, you will need to make a new claim.
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
Disclaimer
Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.