Help with funeral costs: benefits and support available

Funeral costs can be a genuine source of worry on top of everything else, particularly if money is already tight or the death was unexpected. It is worth knowing that there is help available, and that asking about it is a completely normal, sensible step rather than something to feel awkward about.

The main scheme run by the Department for Work and Pensions is the Funeral Expenses Payment. It is available if you or your partner are receiving certain means-tested benefits at the time you claim, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Child Tax Credit, or Working Tax Credit that includes a disability element; you may also qualify if you are entitled to a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. You generally need to have a close relationship with the person who died, such as being their partner, parent or close relative, and it needs to be reasonable for you to be the one taking responsibility for the funeral costs. You must apply within 6 months of the funeral taking place. It is worth understanding that this payment is technically a loan against the deceased's estate — if the estate later releases funds, some or all of the payment may need to be repaid, so it is sensible to check this detail carefully when you apply rather than assuming it is a straightforward grant.

Separately, Bereavement Support Payment is available to a surviving spouse or civil partner, rather than being tied to receiving other benefits. It applies where your husband, wife or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017, where you were under State Pension age when they died, and where they had paid sufficient National Insurance contributions in at least one tax year since 6 April 1975 (this requirement does not apply if their death was caused by an industrial accident or disease). There are two rates: a higher rate, generally for those who receive Child Benefit or are pregnant, which pays a £3,500 lump sum followed by £350 a month for up to 18 months, and a standard rate, which pays a £2,500 lump sum followed by £100 a month for up to 18 months. These figures have remained unchanged since the benefit was introduced in April 2017, so it is worth checking gov.uk directly for the current rules before assuming your circumstances qualify.

If no one is able to arrange or pay for a funeral at all — for example, if the person who died has no known next of kin, or no family able or willing to take responsibility — local authorities in England and Wales have a legal duty, under Section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, to arrange what is known as a public health funeral. This is a simple, respectful funeral arranged and initially paid for by the council. Family members are not barred from attending, and most councils will inform any known relatives of the date and time once arrangements are confirmed. The council can later seek to recover the costs from the person's estate, but this should not be a reason to avoid asking your local authority for help if you genuinely have nowhere else to turn.

If you live in Scotland, the equivalent scheme is the Funeral Support Payment, run by Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP. You need to be ordinarily resident in Scotland, and either you or your partner generally needs to be receiving a qualifying low-income benefit. It pays a standard flat-rate contribution towards funeral costs, alongside a smaller fixed amount to cover specific medical costs where relevant, such as the removal of a pacemaker or other medical device before cremation. The exact amount of the flat-rate contribution can vary depending on the local authority area the person who died lived in, so it is worth checking the current figures on the Social Security Scotland website or with Citizens Advice Scotland when you apply, rather than assuming a UK-wide figure applies.

Beyond these formal schemes, it is worth checking a few other avenues before assuming costs are simply unmanageable. Some employers offer a death-in-service benefit if the person who died was still working. Trade unions, some workplace pension schemes, and certain insurance policies can also include funeral cover that is easy to overlook at a difficult time. National charities such as Turn2us and Cruse Bereavement Support can help you check what you might be entitled to and offer practical, judgement-free guidance. And it is always reasonable to speak openly with a funeral director about your budget from the outset — most are used to these conversations and can help you find an arrangement that is dignified and fits what you are able to manage, without you needing to ask for the cheapest option in an apologetic way.

Frequently asked questions