Funeral Expenses Payment: who can claim and what it covers
Published · 4 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
Funeral Expenses Payment is a government payment that can help people on certain benefits with funeral costs. This guide explains who may qualify, what it covers, the deadline and how it differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Who this guide is for
This guide is general information for people arranging a funeral in England or Wales who receive a low-income benefit. It also points to the separate schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is not advice for your own situation, and it is not for people who are not on a qualifying benefit, who may want to look at other ways of covering costs.
The details below were checked on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026, in the 2026/27 tax year.
What it is
Funeral Expenses Payment, sometimes called a Funeral Payment, gives partial help with the cost of a funeral. GOV.UK says it usually will not cover the full cost. The amount depends on other money available, such as insurance or the estate of the person who died.
Who may qualify
GOV.UK says you, or your partner, must get one of these benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
A Support for Mortgage Interest loan may also make you eligible. You can claim while a claim for one of these benefits is still waiting for a decision.
Your relationship to the person who died
- The partner of the person who died may be eligible.
- A parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy may be eligible.
- The parent, or person responsible, for a child who died under 16 (or under 20 and in approved education or training) may be eligible.
- If the person who died had no partner, a close relative or friend may be eligible.
GOV.UK adds that if a close relative, such as a sibling or parent, is working or not on a qualifying benefit, you might not get a payment. The funeral must be arranged in the UK, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
What it can help pay for
- Burial fees for a particular plot, or cremation fees including the doctor's certificate.
- Travel to arrange or attend the funeral.
- Moving the body within the UK, if it is moved more than 50 miles.
- Death certificates or other documents.
GOV.UK does not set one fixed cap for burial or cremation fees. These are paid based on your circumstances.
How it is paid and repaid
If you have already paid for the funeral, the money goes to your bank, building society or credit union account. If you have not paid yet, it goes directly to the funeral organiser, such as the funeral director.
The payment is not a loan, but GOV.UK says it is deducted from any money you receive from the estate of the person who died. A house or personal items left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner are not counted as part of the estate for this.
How and when to claim
You must apply within 6 months of the funeral, even if you are still waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit. You can claim by phone through the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm), or by post using form SF200. You can claim before the funeral if you have an invoice or signed contract from the funeral director. An estimate is not accepted. If you get Universal Credit, GOV.UK says you will not get a decision until after your next payment. If you disagree with a decision, you can appeal.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
In Scotland, Funeral Support Payment has replaced Funeral Expenses Payment and is claimed through mygov.scot. Mygov.scot says you cannot receive it if you have already had funeral support from another UK scheme. Northern Ireland has its own Funeral Payment, run by the Department for Communities. NI Direct says it covers similar costs, up to £1,000 for other funeral expenses, and must be claimed within six months of the funeral. The exact rules in these two places can differ from those above, so use their own pages.
Check before you act
Rules, amounts and phone lines can change. It is worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below. Free help is available from Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper, and the Tell Us Once service can report a death to several government departments at once.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
