Get help with funeral costs

You could get a Funeral Expenses Payment (also called a Funeral Payment) if you get certain benefits and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging.

If you receive money from the deceased’s estate

Your Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from any money you get from the deceased’s estate.

The estate includes any money or property they had but not a house or personal things left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner.

What you’ll 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 the arranging appointment or travelling 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 money for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers or the coffin. The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral.

How much you get depends on your circumstances. This includes any other money that’s available to cover the costs, for example from an insurance policy or the deceased person’s estate.

If the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan, you can only get up to £120 to help pay for items not covered by their plan.

How the money is paid

Funeral Expenses Payment is paid into your bank, building society or credit union account if you have already paid for the funeral.

If you have not already paid for the funeral the money is paid directly to the funeral director.

Make a claim