Funeral Expenses Payment: Who Can Claim and How to Apply

If you are on a low income and responsible for arranging a funeral, you may be able to get a Funeral Expenses Payment. It can help with certain funeral costs, but it usually will not cover the full bill, so it is important to understand what it does and does not pay for.

This guide explains the basics for families in England and Wales, with notes on Scotland and Northern Ireland where the system differs.

What Is a Funeral Expenses Payment?

A Funeral Expenses Payment is a government payment designed to help some people on qualifying benefits pay for a funeral. It is sometimes called a Funeral Payment.

According to GOV.UK, it can help cover certain necessary costs such as burial or cremation fees, travel, and some documents. It can also provide up to £1,000 for other funeral expenses such as the funeral director's fees, the coffin or flowers.

That said, the payment usually only covers part of the total cost. If you are already feeling overwhelmed, that is the key expectation to hold onto: it is help, not a full funeral budget.

Who Can Claim Funeral Expenses Payment?

You may be able to claim if all of the following are true:

• you are arranging a funeral
• you or your partner get a qualifying benefit
• you meet the relationship rules for the person who died
• the funeral is taking place in the UK, the EEA or Switzerland

Qualifying benefits

At the time of writing, GOV.UK says the qualifying benefits include:

• Universal Credit
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit

You may also qualify in some cases if you are getting a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. If you have applied for a qualifying benefit and are still waiting for a decision, you may still be able to make a claim.

Who Counts as the Right Person to Claim?

The rules here are stricter than many people expect. You may qualify if you are:

• the deceased person's partner
• the parent of a stillborn baby after 24 weeks of pregnancy
• the parent or responsible person for a child who has died

Some other relatives or friends may be able to claim, but usually only where there is no partner able to do so, or the person who would normally claim cannot do it.

A common problem is this: if a close relative of the person who died is working or is not on a qualifying benefit, your claim may be refused even if you are on a qualifying benefit and have taken responsibility for the funeral. This catches many families out.

What Does Funeral Expenses Payment Cover?

The exact amount depends on your situation, but GOV.UK says it can help with:

• burial fees for a specific plot
• cremation fees
• travel to arrange or attend the funeral
• moving the body within the UK if the distance is more than 50 miles
• death certificates or other documents
• up to £1,000 for other funeral expenses

That final part is often the most important for families, because funeral director fees and other service costs add up quickly.

What It Usually Does Not Cover in Full

This is the hard truth: even if you qualify, the payment often leaves a gap. A funeral may still cost more than the support available.

That gap can be bigger if:

• you choose extras outside the essentials
• there is no prepaid funeral plan
• the funeral director asks for payments above what the award covers
• you need to make arrangements quickly without time to compare prices

If the person who died had a prepaid funeral plan, GOV.UK says you can usually only get up to £120 for items not covered by that plan.

Will You Have to Pay It Back?

Sometimes, effectively yes. GOV.UK says that if you receive money from the deceased person's estate later, your Funeral Expenses Payment will usually be deducted from that amount.

That does not mean everyone writes a cheque back directly on the spot. It means the payment is not always treated as separate free money if there is estate money available later.

How to Apply

Claim by phone

GOV.UK says the easiest way to claim is by phone through the Bereavement Service helpline. At the time of writing, the number listed is 0800 151 2012.

Applying by phone can be easier because an adviser can also flag other bereavement benefits you might be entitled to.

Claim by post

You can also apply by post using form SF200. The form can be downloaded from GOV.UK.

Important deadline

You must usually claim within 6 months of the funeral. That deadline still applies even if you are waiting to hear about a claim for Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit.

Can you apply before the funeral?

Yes, sometimes. GOV.UK says you can make a claim before the funeral if you have an invoice or a signed contract from the funeral director. An estimate is not enough.

What Documents Might You Need?

The exact paperwork can vary, but it helps to have:

• the funeral invoice or signed contract
• details of your qualifying benefit
• details about your relationship to the person who died
• information about any money available from the estate, insurance or funeral plan

If you are juggling everything at once, keep copies of every letter, bill and form. That saves time later. Many families end up searching for the same documents repeatedly while dealing with banks, insurers and the DWP.

What If You Live in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

This is important. The standard Funeral Expenses Payment rules on GOV.UK mainly apply to England and Wales.

• In Scotland, Funeral Expenses Payment has been replaced by Funeral Support Payment.
• In Northern Ireland, there is a different claim route through nidirect.

So if you search online for "funeral payment UK", make sure you are following the rules for the right nation.

What If the Payment Is Not Enough?

If the award still leaves a shortfall, you may need to look at a few options together:

• ask the funeral director for a simple itemised quote
• check whether a less expensive arrangement is possible
• see whether the estate, insurance or a union benefit can contribute
• ask whether payments can be staged
• look at local welfare assistance or charitable support if relevant

If you are unsure where to start, begin by understanding the total cost, then separate the essentials from the optional extras. That makes later decisions easier. Our guide to How Much Does a Funeral Cost in the UK in 2026? can help you sense-check the quote you have been given.

A Few Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming the payment covers everything

It usually does not. Build your plan around that reality.

Missing the deadline

Six months can pass quickly when grief and admin blur together. Put the claim on your checklist early.

Letting someone else's assumptions delay the claim

Friends or relatives often mean well, but they may be working from out-of-date information. Check the current GOV.UK guidance directly.

Not asking the funeral director for written paperwork

If you want to claim before the funeral, you need a signed contract or invoice, not just a verbal estimate.

The Bottom Line

Funeral Expenses Payment can make a real difference if you qualify, especially when money is already tight. But it is best understood as partial support, not a complete solution.

Claim early, keep paperwork together, and check the current rules for your part of the UK. If you are also trying to keep track of the wider admin after a death, tools like GetPassage can help you organise the moving parts so one urgent cost problem does not turn into ten missed tasks.