Help with Funeral Costs
If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral that you have to arrange, you may be able to get a social fund funeral payment from the Benefits Agency, so long as you or your partner receive one of the following:
- income support;
- housing benefit;
- council tax benefit;
- job seeker's allowance (income based);
- disabled person's tax credit;
- working family's tax credit.
If you are getting Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or certain other benefits, you could get help to pay for a simple funeral of a partner, a close relative or a close friend. This is paid through the Social Fund.
If the person who died was a war pensioner, you may also be able to get help from the Veterans Agency with the cost of a basic funeral if you are responsible for paying the funeral account.
You don't have to be getting benefits to claim. However, if you claim for a Funeral Payment, this could affect how much you get from the Veterans Agency. For more information and advice phone free on 0800 169 22 77
You will not have to pay tax on any Funeral Payments you may receive.
The Funeral Payment covers the cost of a burial or cremation fees, local authority fees, certain expenses in specific circumstances and up to £700 to pay for other costs, such as a coffin or flowers.
The property and possessions of the person who has died and money from insurance policies, War Pensions Funeral Grants or pre-paid funeral plans may all affect the amount you might get.
To make a claim, you need to complete form SF200. You can get a funeral payment claim form and more information on funeral payments from the Jobcentre Plus website (external link) or from your pension centre or social security office.
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