Funeral Support Payment Scotland: Who Can Get It and How to Apply

Funeral Support Payment Scotland: Who Can Get It and How to Apply

If you live in Scotland and are struggling to pay for a funeral, Funeral Support Payment may help with some of the cost. It will not usually cover the full funeral, but it can make a meaningful difference at a point when money, paperwork and grief often hit at the same time.

This guide explains who can get Funeral Support Payment in Scotland, what it covers, how much it may pay, and how to apply.

What Funeral Support Payment is

Funeral Support Payment is a Scottish benefit designed to help with funeral costs for a baby, child or adult, including a baby who was stillborn.

According to mygov.scot, a funeral for this purpose means the burial, cremation or hydrolysis of the person who has died. It does not include separate memorial events or separate burial of ashes after cremation.

It can be paid either:

• to you, or
• directly to the funeral director helping you arrange the funeral

Only one person can receive Funeral Support Payment for a funeral.

Who can apply

You may be able to get Funeral Support Payment if all of the following apply:

• you live in Scotland
• you or your partner get certain qualifying benefits
• the person who died lived in the UK
• the funeral is taking place in the UK, or in some circumstances abroad
• you apply after the death and usually within 6 months of the funeral
• you or your partner are responsible for the funeral costs
• it is reasonable for you or your partner to take responsibility for those costs

In practice, that last point matters. Mygov.scot says it is usually reasonable for the nearest relative to take responsibility. That might be a:

• partner
• child
• parent
• sibling

If you are not the nearest relative but have taken responsibility, you can still apply — you may just need to explain why.

Which benefits qualify?

You or your partner usually need to receive one or more of these benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance

If you are waiting to hear back about one of these benefit claims, you can still apply. Social Security Scotland may need to wait for that other decision before confirming your Funeral Support Payment.

What it can cover

For someone aged 18 or over, mygov.scot says the payment can help with:

• burial, cremation or hydrolysis costs
• other funeral costs
• your travel costs
• transport costs for moving the person who died
• document costs
• certain medical costs

This is broader than many people expect. It is not just a contribution to the service itself.

How much could you get?

The amount varies. Mygov.scot says the average total payment is £2,065 for a person aged 18 or over, but the final amount depends on the funeral costs and what money is available from the estate.

Funeral costs contribution

For a person aged 18 or over, the payment can include:

• £1,327.75 towards other funeral costs, such as the service or funeral car
• £162.05 instead, if the person who died already had a funeral plan that should help with funeral costs

Burial, cremation or hydrolysis costs

The payment will usually cover burial, cremation or hydrolysis costs in Scotland. If those costs are already covered by a funeral plan, that part may not be payable.

Travel costs

You may be able to get help with one return journey to:

• arrange the funeral, or
• attend the funeral

Support may cover bus, train or car, and in some situations taxi, boat or plane.

Moving the person who died

If the person needs to be moved more than 49.7 miles, Social Security Scotland may help with transport costs beyond the first 49.7 miles, as long as the journey is within the UK.

Document and medical costs

The payment may also help with:

• death certificates needed to release money for the funeral
• medical certificates needed for burial or cremation
• certain medical procedures needed before the funeral can take place, such as pacemaker removal before cremation

What can reduce the payment?

This is the part many families miss: the payment can be reduced if there is money available from the estate.

Mygov.scot says the amount you receive may be affected by money such as:

• funds left by the person who died
• insurance policies
• funeral plans
• lump-sum payments from pensions or burial clubs

That does not always mean you should delay applying. It means you should be ready to provide information about what money is available and accessible.

Can Social Security Scotland recover the money later?

Yes — but usually from the estate, not from you personally.

Mygov.scot explains that Funeral Support Payment is treated as a funeral expense. If money later becomes available from the estate, Social Security Scotland can recover what it paid directly from the estate before inheritance is distributed.

That can sound alarming, but the practical point is simple: this payment is meant to help with urgent funeral costs now, while keeping the usual order of estate expenses intact.

How to apply

Before you apply, mygov.scot says you should:

• register the death
• check that you are eligible
• consider giving your funeral director permission to speak to Social Security Scotland about your application

Information you will usually need

You may need:

• your National Insurance number
• details of the funeral director
• any funeral bills or travel receipts you have so far
• your bank details if the payment is going to you
• a letter showing the deceased person’s name and address dated within the last 12 months

If the funeral is for someone aged 18 or over, you may also need details of available money left by the person who died, such as:

• bank statements
• cash left in the estate
• life insurance money
• lump sums from pensions or burial clubs

Ways to apply

You can apply:

• online
• by phone through Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222
• by post using a paper form

Mygov.scot says most online applications take around 25 to 35 minutes.

When you might not be able to apply online

You may need to apply by phone or post if you:

• do not have a permanent address
• do not have a bank account and use another DWP payment arrangement
• are applying for someone who cannot manage their own affairs

A simple checklist

Step	What to do	Why it matters
1	Register the death	You need this before applying
2	Check your benefits	Eligibility depends on qualifying support
3	Gather funeral and travel paperwork	It speeds up the application
4	Check what money is in the estate	It can affect the amount paid
5	Apply as soon as you can	The usual deadline is within 6 months of the funeral

Final thought

Funeral Support Payment will not solve every money problem after a death, but it can reduce immediate pressure at exactly the moment families need breathing room. If you are managing the funeral while also dealing with paperwork, it helps to keep the admin organised in one place — which is one reason some families use GetPassage alongside official processes.

If you think you may qualify, do not sit on it. Check the criteria, gather the paperwork, and apply.