Funeral Grants and Financial Help in the UK: Complete Guide to Government Support

Social Fund Funeral Payment (Funeral Expenses Payment)

The Social Fund Funeral Payment (also called a Funeral Expenses Payment) is the main government grant for funeral costs in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

### Who Can Claim?

You must be the person arranging the funeral and receiving at least one of these qualifying benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit (with a disability or child element)
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction

The deceased must have been your partner (spouse, civil partner, or long-term cohabitee), or you must be a close relative who can show that no one else in the family can afford to pay.

### What Does It Cover?

The payment covers:

Total cap: The combined cap on funeral director's fees and burial/cremation fees is £1,000. Any costs above this must be covered by the family or the deceased's estate.

### How to Apply

1. Apply within 3 months of the death — late applications are almost always refused

2. You'll need the funeral director's invoice or written quote

3. Apply through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) — use form SF200 or apply online via GOV.UK

4. Decisions typically take 15–20 working days

### The Catch: It's a Loan, Not a Grant

This is the most important thing to understand: the Social Fund Funeral Payment must be repaid from the deceased's estate. If the deceased had savings, property, or other assets, the DWP will reclaim the money.

The government describes this as "recovery from the estate" — the payment is a loan that comes out of anything the deceased left behind.

If the estate is too small to cover the full amount, the DWP writes off the balance. If the estate is large enough, the full amount is repaid.

### What Counts as "Estate"?

The DWP considers the entire estate, including:

• Savings and bank accounts
• Property (including the deceased's home)
• Investments and shares
• Personal possessions of significant value

Exception: The first £10,000 of savings, the first £5,000 of lump-sum death benefits from a pension, and some life insurance payouts are disregarded.

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP)

Bereavement Support Payment replaced several older bereavement benefits (Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance). It's available to people whose spouse or civil partner died, and who were under State Pension age at the time of death.

### What You Get

### Key Points

• Tax-free — no income tax or National Insurance to pay
• Not means-tested — your savings and income don't affect entitlement
• No impact on other benefits — it doesn't reduce your entitlement to Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits
• Paid for up to 18 months — monthly payments stop after 18 months regardless of circumstances

### Eligibility

• You were under State Pension age when your partner died
• Your spouse or civil partner paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks
• You must claim within 3 months of the death for the full amount — after 21 months, no payment is due

### How to Apply

Apply online at GOV.UK or call the Bereavement Service helpline. You'll need your partner's National Insurance number and their death certificate.

Widowed Parent's Allowance

If you have dependent children, you may also qualify for Widowed Parent's Allowance — though this benefit has largely been replaced by the higher rate of Bereavement Support Payment.

### When It Still Applies

• If your spouse or civil partner died before 6 April 2017, you may still claim Widowed Parent's Allowance
• It provides up to £139.10 per week plus an extra child allowance of £13.30 per week for each qualifying child

Children's Funeral Fund for England

Since 23 July 2019, the government covers all costs for burials and cremations of children under 18 in England.

### What's Covered

• All cremation fees
• All burial fees (including grave digging)
• Funeral director's costs directly related to the child's funeral
• Transport costs for the child
• The cost of a coffin (within reason)

### No Means Testing

The Children's Funeral Fund is not means-tested — it doesn't matter what your income or savings are. The support is available to all families regardless of financial circumstances.

### How to Access

Your funeral director can apply directly to the Children's Funeral Fund on your behalf. Most funeral directors in England are familiar with the process.

### Scotland and Wales

• Scotland: The Scottish Government has committed to covering child funeral costs — speak to your funeral director for current arrangements
• Wales: Check with your local council or funeral director — arrangements may differ from England

Scottish Funeral Support Payment

Scotland has its own system, separate from the Social Fund Funeral Payment.

### What It Covers

The Scottish Funeral Support Payment covers:

• Up to £1,500 toward funeral costs (higher than the £1,000 available under the Social Fund)
• Reasonable travel costs to arrange or attend the funeral
• The cost of one death certificate

### Key Differences from the Social Fund

### Who Can Claim

Similar qualifying rules as the Social Fund — you must be on a qualifying benefit and be the person arranging the funeral.

Apply through Social Security Scotland — either online or by phone.

NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS)

While not a funeral grant specifically, the NHS Low Income Scheme can help with health-related costs if you're on a low income.

### What It Covers

• NHS prescriptions
• NHS dental treatment
• Sight tests and glasses or contact lenses
• Travel to receive NHS treatment
• Wigs and fabric supports

### How It Helps After a Bereavement

If the death of your partner significantly reduced your household income, you may qualify for help through this scheme even if you were not eligible before. Apply via the HC1 form available from GPs, hospitals, or GOV.UK.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)

If your housing benefit or Universal Credit housing element doesn't cover your rent after a bereavement, your local council may award Discretionary Housing Payments.

### Who Can Get It

• People on Housing Benefit or Universal Credit (housing element)
• Who need extra help with rent after a change in circumstances
• Where the household income has dropped (e.g., following a partner's death)

### How to Apply

Contact your local council's housing benefit team directly. DHPs are discretionary — each council has its own budget and criteria. There's no fixed amount, and awards are usually short-term (3–12 months).

Council Tax Reduction for Bereaved

If you live alone after a bereavement, you may qualify for:

### 25% Single Person Discount

If you now live alone, your council tax bill is reduced by 25%. Contact your local council to apply.

### Full Discount for Executors

If the deceased's home is now empty while the estate is being administered, you may get a full council tax exemption for up to 6 months (or longer in some areas).

### Council Tax Reduction (Means-Tested)

If your income has dropped due to bereavement and you're on a low income, you may qualify for Council Tax Reduction (also called Council Tax Support). This is administered by your local council and can reduce your bill by up to 100%.

How These Support Schemes Fit Together

Practical Steps to Get Financial Help

### Step 1: Get a Funeral Director's Quote First

You can't apply for most grants without a written quote from a funeral director. Use FuneralCompare to compare prices from local providers so you can submit the most cost-effective quote with your application.

### Step 2: Apply Within Deadlines

### Step 3: Gather Documentation

You'll typically need:

• Death certificate (certified copy)
• Funeral director's invoice or quote
• Proof of benefits (for means-tested grants)
• Your partner's National Insurance number (for Bereavement Support Payment)
• Bank account details (for payment)

### Step 4: Check All Entitlements

Don't assume you're not eligible. Many people miss out because they don't know the schemes exist. Use the GOV.UK benefits calculator or speak to a benefits advisor at Citizens Advice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying too late — The 3-month deadline for the Social Fund is strict. If you miss it, the application is automatically refused
• Not realising it's a loan — The Funeral Expenses Payment is recovered from the deceased's estate. If the estate has enough assets, you'll need to repay it
• Assuming you can't afford a funeral — With FuneralCompare, you can find attended funerals from £1,495 and direct cremations from £895. Government grants can cover a significant portion
• Not shopping around — Even with a grant, it makes sense to compare prices. The grant caps funeral director costs at £1,000 (Social Fund) — choosing a cheaper provider means less financial strain

Where to Get Advice

• Citizens Advice — Free, impartial advice on benefits and funeral costs
• GOV.UK — Official information on all government funeral support schemes
• FuneralCompare — Compare real CMA-standardised funeral prices from providers near you
• Cruse Bereavement Support — Free bereavement counselling if you're struggling emotionally as well as financially

Start by comparing funeral prices in your area on FuneralCompare — knowing what things cost is the first step to claiming the support you're entitled to.