Funeral Expenses Payment: eligibility, cover and how to claim

If you are arranging a funeral and receiving certain means-tested benefits, the government may help with some of the costs through Funeral Expenses Payment. It is a grant from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – you do not repay it yourself, although it is recovered from the deceased’s estate if there is money in it. It pays burial or cremation fees in full, plus up to £1,000 towards other funeral costs.

This guide explains who qualifies, what costs are covered, how much you are likely to receive, how repayment from the estate works, and how to apply step by step. If you live in Scotland, a separate scheme called Funeral Support Payment applies instead.

What is Funeral Expenses Payment?

Funeral Expenses Payment (sometimes called a Funeral Payment) is a means-tested grant from the DWP designed to help people on low incomes meet the cost of a funeral they are arranging. It covers specific items – mainly burial or cremation fees, plus a capped amount for other costs such as the funeral director’s fee, the coffin, and flowers.

The payment does not usually cover the full cost of a funeral. The average UK funeral costs well over £4,000, while the grant is typically much less. It is intended to take the edge off, covering the essentials so that bereaved families on low incomes are not left with unmanageable bills.

If the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan, you can still claim – but only up to £120 for items the plan does not cover. (Source: gov.uk – Funeral Expenses Payment, last verified 19 June 2026.)

Am I eligible?

To qualify, you must meet three conditions at the same time: you or your partner receive a qualifying benefit, you have a qualifying relationship with the person who died, and the funeral is taking place in an eligible location.

Qualifying benefits

You or your partner must be receiving – or be waiting to hear about a claim for – at least one of the following. (Source: gov.uk – Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility, last verified 19 June 2026.)

You can still apply if you have claimed one of these benefits and are waiting for a decision – you do not need to wait for the outcome before claiming Funeral Expenses Payment. The older tax credits (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit) used to count, but they have now closed and most claimants have moved to Universal Credit, which qualifies. If you are unsure which benefit you are on, the Bereavement Service can check when you call.

Relationship to the deceased

You do not need to be next of kin, but you must be the person responsible for arranging the funeral, and it usually helps to be named on the funeral director’s invoice. You qualify if you are:

• The partner (spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner) of the person who died
• The parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy
• A parent or person responsible for a child who died under the age of 16 (or under 20 if they were in approved education or training)

You may also qualify as a close relative or close friend who is arranging the funeral, provided the deceased had no partner, or the partner is unable to claim – for example, because they are abroad, in prison, or estranged.

Location of the funeral

The funeral must be taking place in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.

The “better-placed person” rule

There is an important restriction. If a close relative of the deceased – such as a sibling or parent – is in work or not receiving a qualifying benefit, the DWP may refuse your claim, even if you personally are on benefits. The reasoning is that the working relative is considered better placed to meet the cost. This catches some people off guard, so it is worth checking before you apply.

When deciding this, the DWP looks at how closely related each person was to the deceased and the nature of their contact. It groups people into categories: the surviving partner first, then immediate family such as parents and adult children, then other relatives and close friends. An estranged family member, or a relative who had no real contact with the person who died, can be set aside, which can leave a more distant relative or friend on benefits able to claim. If you are not sure where you stand, explain the family situation to the Bereavement Service when you call, and they can tell you whether the rule is likely to affect you. (Source: gov.uk – eligibility, last verified 19 June 2026.)

What does Funeral Expenses Payment cover?

The payment covers two categories of cost: certain items paid in full, and a capped amount for everything else.

Costs covered in full

These are paid at whatever the actual amount is – there is no cap:

• Burial fees for a particular plot, including the cost of a new grave or reopening an existing one
• Cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor’s certificate required for cremation
• Travel for one return journey to arrange or attend the funeral
• Moving the body more than 50 miles within the UK
• Death certificates or other documents needed for the funeral arrangements

Costs covered up to £1,000

On top of the items above, you can receive up to £1,000 towards other funeral expenses, including the funeral director’s fees, the coffin, flowers, and the cost of the service. The £1,000 cap applies to the total of all these additional items combined.

If the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan, you can only receive up to £120 towards items the plan does not cover. (Source: gov.uk – what you’ll get, last verified 19 June 2026.)

How much will I receive?

There is no single fixed amount. Unlike Bereavement Support Payment, which pays set rates, Funeral Expenses Payment is calculated from the actual funeral costs minus any money already available to meet them. How much you get depends on:

• The burial or cremation fees in your area – these vary widely across the UK
• Any insurance, savings, or pre-paid plan – money from these sources is deducted from your payment
• The estate – if the deceased left money, the DWP deducts it (though a home or personal items left to a surviving partner are excluded)

As a guide, someone arranging a cremation with no pre-paid plan and no estate could receive the full cremation fee (often £800–£1,200 depending on the crematorium) plus up to £1,000 for other costs. Burial is usually more expensive – grave purchase and interment fees vary considerably by council and location, and these are paid in full.

The payment helps, but it will rarely cover the whole funeral. If you are facing a shortfall, see the other help with funeral costs section below. (Source: gov.uk – what you’ll get)

Repayment from the estate

You do not repay Funeral Expenses Payment yourself, but it is recovered from the deceased’s estate if there is money in it to recover. This is the part people most often misunderstand, so it is worth being clear.

• If the person who died left money, savings, or assets that can be used to pay for the funeral, the DWP will reclaim the payment from the estate.
• A home or personal belongings left to a surviving spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner are excluded – these are not counted, so the surviving partner is not forced to sell the family home.
• Recovery happens through the estate’s administration, not from you personally. If you are the executor or administrator, the funeral costs (and any DWP recovery) are settled before money is distributed to beneficiaries.

In practice, the payment is most valuable where the person who died had little or nothing in their estate. Where there is money, the support is, in effect, an advance that the estate later repays. (Source: gov.uk – what you’ll get)

If you are dealing with the estate, our probate guides explain when probate is needed and how funeral costs are paid from the estate before other debts.

How to claim

Deadline

You must apply within six months of the funeral. This is a hard deadline – if you miss it, you cannot claim, even if you are otherwise eligible.

You can apply before the funeral has taken place, as long as you have a funeral director’s invoice or a signed contract. Estimates are not accepted – the DWP needs a confirmed cost. (Source: gov.uk – how to claim)

By phone (recommended)

Call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

• Welsh language: 0800 731 0453
• Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 151 2012
• BSL video relay: available through the gov.uk interpreter service

An adviser takes your details over the phone and can also check whether you are entitled to any other bereavement benefits at the same time – including Bereavement Support Payment. Phoning is usually the fastest route, and the adviser can flag anything that might cause a problem before you submit.

Online

If you receive Universal Credit, you can start a claim through your online Universal Credit journal. For other qualifying benefits, the gov.uk Funeral Expenses Payment page directs you to the phone or postal route, so calling the Bereavement Service is the simplest option for most people.

By post

Download form SF200 from the gov.uk publications page and post it to the address on the form.

What you will need

Have the following ready when you call or fill in the form:

• Your National Insurance number
• The deceased’s full name and date of death
• The funeral director’s invoice or signed contract
• Details of any insurance policies, pre-paid funeral plans, or money left by the deceased
• Your bank or building society account details

How and when payment is made

If you have already paid the funeral director, the money is paid into your bank or building society account. If you have not yet paid, the DWP can send the payment directly to the funeral director instead.

The DWP aims to decide most claims within a few weeks of receiving everything it needs, though it does not guarantee a fixed turnaround. Two things commonly slow a claim down:

• Universal Credit claimants: if you receive Universal Credit, the DWP will not decide your Funeral Expenses Payment claim until after your next Universal Credit payment. This is built into the process, so allow extra time if your payment date is some way off.
• Estate assessments: if the deceased left money or assets, the DWP has to work out how much to deduct, which takes longer than a straightforward claim.

You will get a letter telling you whether your claim has succeeded and, if so, how much you will receive. If you need the funeral director to wait for payment, tell them you have applied – most are experienced with DWP claims and will hold off on chasing you while a claim is in progress. (Source: gov.uk – how to claim, last verified 19 June 2026.)

If your application is refused

A refusal is not the end of the road. Many benefit decisions are changed when they are looked at again, so it is worth challenging a decision you think is wrong. The process has two stages.

1. Mandatory reconsideration – ask the DWP to look at the decision again. You must do this before you can appeal. Contact the DWP within one month of the date on your decision letter, by phone or in writing, explaining why you think it is wrong and including any evidence, such as the funeral invoice, proof of your relationship to the person who died, or details of the family situation. The DWP will send you a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice with the outcome.
2. Appeal to a tribunal – if you still disagree, you can appeal to the independent Social Security and Child Support Tribunal, run by HM Courts and Tribunals Service. You normally have one month from the date of the reconsideration notice to lodge your appeal. There is no fee, and the tribunal is independent of the DWP.

Common reasons for refusal include the “better-placed person” rule (where a close relative who is not on benefits is considered able to pay), a missed six-month deadline, or the claim being made by someone the DWP does not accept as responsible for the funeral. You can get free, confidential help with a reconsideration or appeal from Citizens Advice or a local welfare rights service. (Source: gov.uk – appeal a benefit decision, last verified 19 June 2026.)

Other help with funeral costs

Funeral Expenses Payment covers a portion of costs, but many families still face a shortfall. Other sources of help include:

Direct cremation – the lowest-cost funeral option, typically around £1,000–£1,500, with no ceremony at the crematorium and the ashes returned for a private memorial later. See our guide to direct cremation.

Local authority public health funerals – if nobody is able to pay, the local council has a legal duty under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 to arrange a funeral. There is no charge to the family, though the council decides the type of service. Contact the relevant council to ask.

Charitable and faith-based grants – organisations such as Turn2Us run a database of grants for people in financial difficulty. Some faith communities and charities offer help with funeral costs, including hardship funds run by religious organisations.

Trade union and benevolent funds – if the person who died (or you) belonged to a trade union or a professional body, it may run a benevolent fund that helps members or their families with funeral costs. The Royal British Legion and other service charities can help families of armed forces veterans. It is worth asking any organisation the deceased was a long-standing member of.

Employer death-in-service benefit – if the person who died was employed, their workplace pension or life cover may include a death-in-service lump sum, often a multiple of their salary. Ask their employer or pension provider, as this can arrive faster than other funds and may cover the funeral in full.

Funeral director payment plans – many funeral directors allow you to pay in instalments, or will defer payment while a DWP claim is processed. Always ask before signing.

Crowdfunding – some families raise funds for a funeral through a crowdfunding page. This works best where there is a wide circle of friends and family who want to contribute, though it is unpredictable and not something to rely on.

For a full picture of what a funeral is likely to cost and how to manage the expense, see our guide to funeral costs.

Funeral support across the UK

Funeral Expenses Payment is the scheme for England and Wales, run by the DWP, with the same rules and the same £1,000 cap in both nations. Scotland and Northern Ireland are different, so check which scheme applies to you.

Scotland: Funeral Support Payment

If you live in Scotland, Funeral Expenses Payment does not apply. Scotland has its own scheme – Funeral Support Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP.

The eligibility rules are broadly similar: you must be ordinarily resident in Scotland, be responsible for the funeral, and you or your partner must receive a qualifying low-income benefit. The main differences are in the amounts:

• The flat-rate payment for other funeral expenses is £1,257.75 – higher than the £1,000 cap in England and Wales
• If there was a fully paid-up funeral plan, the flat rate drops to £153.50

To apply, call 0800 182 2222 (freephone, Monday to Friday) or apply online via mygov.scot/funeral-support-payment. The deadline is the same – within six months of the funeral. For the full guide, see Funeral Support Payment (Scotland). (Source: mygov.scot – Funeral Support Payment, last verified 31 May 2026.)

Northern Ireland

Funeral Expenses Payment is available in Northern Ireland, but you apply through the Department for Communities rather than the DWP. The qualifying benefits and eligibility rules are broadly the same. For details and to apply, visit nidirect.gov.uk – funeral expenses payments.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get Funeral Expenses Payment if I am on Universal Credit?

Yes. Universal Credit is a qualifying benefit. If you receive it and are arranging the funeral of someone you have a qualifying relationship with, you can apply.

What if the person who died left money or savings?

The DWP deducts any money available from the deceased’s estate from your payment, including savings, insurance payouts, and assets that can be used to pay funeral costs. A home or personal items left to a surviving spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner are excluded.

What if I am not on benefits – can I still get help?

Funeral Expenses Payment is only available to people receiving one of the qualifying benefits listed above. If you do not qualify, consider the options in the other help with funeral costs section.

What if the person had a pre-paid funeral plan?

You can still apply, but the payment is limited to a maximum of £120 (or £153.50 in Scotland) towards items the plan does not cover.

How long does it take to come through?

A straightforward claim is usually decided within a few weeks of the DWP receiving everything it needs. If you are on Universal Credit, the decision is held until after your next Universal Credit payment, so allow more time. Claims that involve assessing the deceased’s estate take longer.

What can I do if my claim is refused?

Ask the DWP for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the decision letter, setting out why you think it is wrong. If you still disagree, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. There is no fee, and Citizens Advice or a welfare rights adviser can help you for free.

Does it affect my other benefits?

No. Funeral Expenses Payment does not count as income or capital for Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits. Receiving it will not reduce your benefit payments.

Summary

Funeral Expenses Payment is a DWP grant that helps people on low incomes with the cost of a funeral. It pays burial or cremation fees in full, plus up to £1,000 for other costs. You must be receiving a qualifying benefit and apply within six months of the funeral. The payment is recovered from the estate if there is money in it.

To apply: call 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm), or download form SF200 from gov.uk/funeral-payments. In Scotland: call 0800 182 2222 or apply at mygov.scot.

If you are also a surviving spouse or civil partner, check whether you qualify for Bereavement Support Payment – a separate, tax-free benefit worth up to £9,800. For a full overview of bereavement benefits and what to do first, see our bereavement benefits hub.

Eligibility, rates, and process last verified: 19 June 2026, from gov.uk – Funeral Expenses Payment and mygov.scot – Funeral Support Payment.