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Funeral Grants

What is a Funeral Grant?

  • Help towards the cost of a funeral
  • Depends on your circumstances, not those of the person who has died
  • One-off payment

How can I get a Funeral Grant?

Are you or your partner getting:

  • Universal Credit
  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • the disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credit

 

If YES to one, claim a Funeral Payment.

(We use partner to mean a person you are married to or a person you are living with as if you are married to them). If you have applied for one of these benefits, but do not know if you will get it, you should still apply for a Funeral Payment.

What else should I know?

Funeral Payments are part of the Social Fund.

You can apply any time after the date the person died and up to three months after the date of the funeral.

It must have been reasonable for you to take responsibility for the costs.

The funeral must usually be in the United Kingdom.

May be affected by any other means of paying for the funeral.

May have to be paid back out of the estate of the person who has died.

How much will I get?

Funeral Expenses Payment can help pay for some of the costs of the following:

  • burial fees for a particular plot
  • cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor’s certificate
  • travel to arrange or go to the funeral
  • the cost of moving the body within the UK, if it’s being moved more than 50 miles
  • death certificates or other documents

 

You can also get up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers, or the coffin.

The payment will not usually cover all the costs of the funeral.

How do I claim?

You must apply within 6 months of the funeral, even if you’re waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit.

Claim by phone by calling the Bereavement Service helpline.

Bereavement Service helpline

Telephone: 0800 151 2012
Welsh language: 0800 731 0453
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Welsh language textphone: 0800 731 0456
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 151 2012.

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

An adviser will also help you claim any other bereavement benefits you might be entitled to.

You can also claim by post. Download and fill in the claim form on the .gov.uk website and send it to the address on the form.