Covers in full
Burial or cremation fees, certain travel, documents
A funeral has to be arranged in the worst week of someone's life, usually by whoever feels responsible rather than whoever can afford it. This payment exists for exactly that, and the rules about who can claim are stricter and stranger than most people expect, so it is worth reading before you sign anything with a funeral director.
Quick facts
- Covers in full
- Burial or cremation fees, certain travel, documents
- Plus
- Up to £1,000 for everything else
- Pre-paid plan
- Cut to £120 for items the plan does not cover
- You must get
- Universal Credit, income-related ESA, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit
- Where
- UK, EEA or Switzerland
- Scotland
- Funeral Support Payment instead
What it pays for
The core costs are covered directly rather than capped.
On top of those, "You can also get up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director's fees, flowers or the coffin."
Be realistic about the gap. GOV.UK says so itself: "The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral."
- "burial fees for a particular plot"
- "cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor's certificate"
- "travel to arrange or go 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"
Who can claim
Two tests have to be passed at once: a benefit test on you, and a relationship test with the person who died.
On benefits: "You (or your partner) must get one or more of the following: Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit". A Support for Mortgage Interest loan can also qualify you.
Do not wait for a decision on a claim you have already made: "You can still claim Funeral Expenses Payment if you've applied for these benefits and you're waiting to hear about your claim."
This page is for England and Wales. In Northern Ireland the payment is claimed through nidirect, and a funeral held in the Republic of Ireland can count. See our Funeral Expenses Payment in Northern Ireland guide.
- You can claim as the partner of the person who died.
- "the parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy"
- "the parent or person responsible for a deceased child who was under 16 (or under 20 and in approved education or training)"
- As a close relative or friend, if the person had no partner, or the partner or parent cannot claim because they live abroad or are in prison.
The rule that catches families out
This is the one people do not see coming, and it can turn a claim down after the funeral has been arranged.
"If a close relative of the deceased (such as a sibling or parent) is in work or not getting a qualifying benefit, you might not get a Funeral Expenses Payment."
So it is not enough that you are on a qualifying benefit. If another close relative is working, the claim can fail — the reasoning being that the family collectively could pay. It is worth checking this before committing to costs.
The second surprise is the pre-paid plan: "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."
What happens if there is an estate
"Your Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from any money you get from the deceased's estate." It is help with cash flow at a terrible moment rather than a windfall, and it is recovered where there is money to recover it from.
One important exclusion: "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." A surviving spouse is not going to have the family home counted against the claim.
How the money reaches you
If you have already paid, it goes into your bank, building society or credit union account.
If you have not, "The money will be paid directly to the organiser of the funeral (for example, the funeral director) if you have not paid yet." That is usually the better route, because it means you never have to find the money first.
The funeral has to be "you're arranging a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland".
In Scotland this scheme no longer exists: "You can apply for a Funeral Support Payment. It has replaced Funeral Expenses Payment in Scotland."
How to claim a Funeral Expenses Payment
You can claim by phone or by post, and you can claim before the funeral if you have the right paperwork.
Have these ready:
- An invoice or signed contract from the funeral director, if you claim before the funeral
Claim before or after the funeral
You can claim before the funeral if the funeral director has given you an invoice or signed contract, not an estimate.
Claim by phone
Call the Bereavement Service helpline. The adviser can also help you claim other bereavement benefits.
Or claim by post on form SF200
Download and fill in form SF200, then send it to the address on the form.
Expect a wait if you get Universal Credit
If you get Universal Credit, the decision comes after your next Universal Credit payment.
Appeal if you disagree
If you think the decision is wrong, you can appeal to a tribunal.
Time limit: Apply within 6 months of the funeral, even if you are still waiting to hear about a qualifying benefit.
Phone, forms and how long it takes
- Bereavement Service helpline (claim by phone)
- 0800 151 2012
- Claim by post
- claim form (SF200)
- Where to send the form
- Freepost DWP Funeral Payments
- If you get Universal Credit
- If you get Universal Credit, you will not get a decision until after your next payment.
- If you are refused
- You can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal if you disagree with the decision.
- Time limit to challenge
- Ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision.
- If you still disagree
- You can then appeal to a tribunal, usually within one month of your mandatory reconsideration notice.
From the official pages (gov.uk), re-checked every night. Numbers and times can change, so check the official page before you send anything.
Common questions
How much is the Funeral Expenses Payment?
There is no single figure. Burial or cremation fees are covered, along with certain travel, moving the body more than 50 miles within the UK, and documents. On top of that you can get up to £1,000 for other costs like the funeral director, the coffin and flowers.
Do I have to pay it back?
Only out of the estate. The payment is deducted from any money you receive from the deceased's estate. A house or personal belongings left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner are not counted as part of that estate.
What if there was a pre-paid funeral plan?
The payment drops to a maximum of £120, and only for items the plan does not cover. It is worth checking whether a plan exists before assuming the full amount is available.
Can I claim if my brother or sister is working?
Possibly not. If a close relative of the person who died, such as a sibling or parent, is in work or not getting a qualifying benefit, the claim may be refused. This is the rule that most often surprises families, so check it before committing to costs.
Can I claim while waiting for a benefit decision?
Yes. You can claim Funeral Expenses Payment if you have applied for a qualifying benefit and are still waiting to hear. Do not delay the funeral claim while a benefit claim is being processed.
Does it cover a funeral abroad?
Within the UK, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, yes. Outside that, no.