Funeral Expenses Payment: who can get it and how to apply

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 — you do not need to pay it back, unless the deceased left money in their estate. You can claim up to £1,000 toward general funeral expenses, plus the full cost of burial or cremation fees. The payment is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is available in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

This guide explains who qualifies, what costs are covered, how much you are likely to receive, 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 like 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 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)

Who can claim Funeral Expenses Payment?

To qualify, you must meet three conditions at the same time:

1. You or your partner receive a qualifying benefit
2. You have a qualifying relationship with the deceased
3. The funeral is taking place in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland

Qualifying benefits

You or your partner must be receiving at least one of the following when you claim:

You can still apply if you have applied for one of these benefits and are waiting for a decision. You do not need to wait for the decision before claiming Funeral Expenses Payment. (Source: gov.uk — Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility)

Relationship to the deceased

You do not need to be next of kin — but you do need to be the person responsible for arranging the funeral. 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 if you are a close relative or close friend who is arranging the funeral, provided:

• The deceased had no partner, or
• The deceased’s partner is unable to claim — for example, because they are abroad, in prison, or estranged

There is an important restriction. If a close relative of the deceased (such as a sibling or parent) is in work and 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. (Source: gov.uk — Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility)

What does Funeral Expenses Payment cover?

The payment covers two categories of costs:

Costs covered in full

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

• Burial fees — 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 costs — reasonable travel expenses for one return journey to arrange or attend the funeral
• Transport of the body — if the body needs to be moved more than 50 miles within the UK
• Death certificates — the cost of any copies you need for the funeral arrangements

Costs covered up to £1,000

On top of the items above, you can receive up to £1,000 to help pay for other funeral expenses, including:

• Funeral director’s fees
• The coffin or casket
• Flowers
• Church or venue fees for the service
• Orders of 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 toward items the plan does not cover. (Source: gov.uk — what you’ll get)

How much will you receive?

There is no single fixed amount. How much you get depends on:

• The burial or cremation fees in your area — these vary significantly across the UK
• Whether the deceased had insurance, savings, or a pre-paid plan — any money available from these sources is deducted from your payment
• The estate — if the deceased left money, the DWP will deduct it from the payment (though a house or personal items left to a surviving partner are excluded from this calculation)

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

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

How to apply

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. The line is 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 will take 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.

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 payment works

• If you have already paid the funeral director, the money is paid into your bank account
• If you have not yet paid, the DWP can send the payment directly to the funeral director

Processing times vary. Straightforward claims may be decided within a few weeks. Cases involving estate assessments can take longer. If you need the funeral director to wait for payment, let them know you have applied — most funeral directors are experienced with DWP claims and will work with you.

Scotland: Funeral Support Payment {#scotland-funeral-support-payment}

If you live in Scotland, Funeral Expenses Payment does not apply to you. Scotland has its own separate 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 be receiving a qualifying low-income benefit (including Universal Credit, Income Support, income-related ESA, income-based JSA, Pension Credit, or Housing Benefit).

The main differences are:

• The flat-rate cap for other funeral expenses is £1,279.15 — higher than the £1,000 cap in England and Wales
• If there is a funeral plan, the cap for uncovered items is £156.10
• The scheme is run by Social Security Scotland, not the DWP
• Applications can be made online, by phone, or by post

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: Citizens Advice Scotland — Funeral Support Payment)

Northern Ireland

Funeral Expenses Payment is available in Northern Ireland, though the application process is slightly different from England and Wales. You apply through the Department for Communities rather than the DWP.

For details and to apply, visit nidirect.gov.uk — funeral expenses payments or call the relevant helpline listed there. The qualifying benefits and eligibility rules are broadly the same.

If your application is refused

If the DWP refuses your claim, you have two routes to challenge the decision:

1. Mandatory reconsideration — ask the DWP to look at the decision again. You must do this before you can appeal. Write to the DWP within one month of receiving the decision letter, explaining why you think it is wrong.

2. Appeal to a tribunal — if you are still unhappy after the mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. There is no fee to appeal, and you can get free help from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights adviser.

The most common reason for refusal is the “better-placed person” rule — where a close relative who is not on benefits is considered able to pay. If this applies to your situation, it is worth seeking advice before accepting the decision. (Source: gov.uk — Funeral Expenses Payment)

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. There is no ceremony at the crematorium; the ashes are returned to the family for a private memorial later. Our guide to direct cremation explains how it works and what to expect.

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

Charitable grants — organisations such as Turn2Us run a database of grants for people in financial difficulty. Some charities also offer grants specifically for funeral costs.

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

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

Common questions

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

Yes. Universal Credit is one of the qualifying benefits. If you receive Universal Credit and are arranging the funeral of someone you have a qualifying relationship with, you can apply. Note that if you claim before the funeral, the DWP may not process it until after your next Universal Credit payment.

What if the person who died left money or savings?

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

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 above.

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 £156.10 in Scotland) for any items the plan does not cover.

Does it affect my other benefits?

Funeral Expenses Payment does not count as income 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 covers 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.

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.

If you have not yet used the Tell Us Once service to notify government departments about the death, that saves contacting each department individually and is worth doing early.

For practical guidance on the funeral itself, our guides to funeral costs and direct cremation cover the main options and what to expect.

Eligibility, rates, and process last verified: March 2026, from gov.uk — Funeral Expenses Payment and Citizens Advice Scotland — Funeral Support Payment.