Funeral costs in the UK can run into thousands of pounds, and for many families, that bill arrives at the worst possible time. If you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits, gov.uk help with funeral costs may be available through a scheme called the Funeral Expenses Payment. It won’t cover everything, but it can take a serious edge off the financial pressure.
At Go Direct Cremations, we speak with families every day who are trying to work out how to pay for a cremation without going into debt. Our direct cremation service already cuts costs significantly by removing the ceremony, the hearse, and the extras that push traditional funeral prices up. But even with a simpler option, some families still need additional support, and that’s exactly where government funding can help.
This guide breaks down who qualifies for the Funeral Expenses Payment, what it actually covers, how much you could receive, and the steps to make your claim. We’ve kept it straightforward so you can get the answers you need quickly and focus on what matters most, looking after yourself and your family.
What GOV.UK help with funeral costs includes
The Funeral Expenses Payment is a government grant, not a loan, which means you never have to pay it back. It is funded through the Social Fund and managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The gov.uk help with funeral costs scheme exists specifically to support people on qualifying benefits who cannot reasonably meet funeral costs from their own income or savings.
What the payment covers
The payment splits into two distinct parts. The first covers specific necessary costs in full, with no upper cap on those individual line items. The second part adds a fixed allowance of up to £1,000 that you can put towards other funeral expenses. Understanding this split matters because it directly affects how much you can realistically expect to receive.
Necessary costs covered in full:
- Death certificate fees
- Costs to move the body within the UK
- Cremation fees, including the doctor’s certificate
- Up to £120 for travel to arrange or attend the funeral
- A burial plot in a public cemetery
The £1,000 allowance can go towards:
- The coffin
- Flowers
- Funeral director’s professional fees
- Other general funeral expenses
The total you receive depends on your individual circumstances, and any money from the deceased’s estate is deducted from your payment before you get it.
What the payment does not cover
The scheme has firm limits, and understanding them early saves you from planning around money that may not arrive. Costs that exceed the capped amounts remain your responsibility, and the payment does not extend to premium funeral packages or optional extras beyond what the DWP considers necessary.
If the deceased left behind savings, a pre-paid funeral plan, or a life insurance policy, the DWP deducts that amount from your payment first. So if the estate holds £1,500 and your total funeral bill comes to £3,000, your payment is calculated on the remaining £1,500 gap, not the full amount. Knowing this deduction rule from the outset helps you set a realistic budget and identify where a lower-cost option like direct cremation can reduce that gap significantly.
Step 1. Check if you can claim a Funeral Expenses Payment
Before you look at figures or fill in any forms, check your eligibility first. The Funeral Expenses Payment is tied to specific qualifying benefits, meaning you must be receiving at least one of them at the time of the funeral to make a valid claim.
Qualifying benefits
You can claim if you or your partner currently receive at least one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child Tax Credit (not the family element only)
- Working Tax Credit (including a disability or severe disability element)
If you are not receiving any of the benefits listed above, you will not qualify for gov.uk help with funeral costs through this scheme, regardless of your income level.
Your relationship to the deceased
Your connection to the person who died also determines whether you can claim. You must be the partner, close relative, or close friend of the deceased, and the DWP will check that no one closer to the deceased was in a stronger financial position to pay. For example, if the deceased had an adult child who is not on benefits, the DWP may refuse your claim on the basis that another person was better placed to cover the costs. Check the full eligibility rules on GOV.UK before you apply.
Step 2. Work out what you could get and what counts
Once you confirm your eligibility, the next step is working out a realistic figure for what you might receive. The Funeral Expenses Payment does not pay a flat rate; it calculates based on your specific costs and the deceased’s estate, so your amount will differ from someone else’s claim.
How the payment is calculated
The DWP adds together your necessary costs (paid in full) plus up to £1,000 for other funeral expenses, then deducts any assets from the deceased’s estate before paying out. Here is a straightforward example to show how the figures stack up:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cremation fees | £800 |
| Death certificate | £12 |
| Body transport within the UK | £250 |
| Other expenses (coffin, funeral director fees) | £1,000 (capped) |
| Subtotal | £2,062 |
| Less estate assets | -£500 |
| Estimated payment | £1,562 |
Your actual payment depends on your funeral provider’s charges, the size of the deceased’s estate, and whether a pre-paid funeral plan exists.
What counts as part of the estate
Any savings, insurance payouts, or cash left by the deceased reduce your payment pound for pound. This includes a pre-paid funeral plan, life insurance policies paid to the estate, and money held in the deceased’s bank accounts. Personal possessions such as furniture or a vehicle generally do not count.
Knowing this upfront helps you make smarter choices about the total bill. Gov.uk help with funeral costs works most effectively when you keep the overall spend as low as possible, since a smaller total means the payment covers a larger proportion of your costs.
Step 3. Get ready to apply with the right details
Gathering the right information before you start your claim saves time and prevents delays. The DWP needs specific details about you, the deceased, and the funeral costs, and having everything to hand before you begin makes the process much smoother.
What information you need to gather
You will need to provide details across three areas: your own circumstances, the deceased’s details, and the funeral costs themselves. Missing any of these can slow down your claim or cause the DWP to contact you for more, which pushes back your payment date.
Collect the following before you start:
- Your National Insurance number and the name of the qualifying benefit you receive
- The deceased’s full name, date of birth, and date of death
- The name and address of the funeral director handling the arrangements
- A breakdown of the funeral costs, by line item where possible
- Details of any estate assets, including savings, life insurance, or a pre-paid funeral plan
Having a written quote or invoice from your funeral director to hand before you apply makes it easier to provide accurate cost figures to the DWP.
How to check your benefit is active
Before submitting your claim for gov.uk help with funeral costs, confirm that your qualifying benefit was active on the date of the funeral. Check your most recent award letter or log into your Universal Credit online account at gov.uk if that is your qualifying benefit.
If you receive a paper-based benefit such as Pension Credit or Housing Benefit, your latest award letter confirms your entitlement. Keep that letter with your other documents so you can quote the reference number if the DWP asks for it.
Step 4. Apply and track what happens next
The Funeral Expenses Payment claim must be submitted within 6 months of the funeral. You can apply by phone or by post, but the quickest route is to call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 731 0469, where an adviser will complete the SF200 claim form with you over the phone.
How to submit your claim
You have two options for submitting your gov.uk help with funeral costs claim. Phone applications are processed faster because the adviser fills in the SF200 form directly from your answers. Postal applications take longer since you need to download, complete, and return the form yourself. Either way, submit as soon as you have all your documents ready, because the 6-month deadline runs from the date of the funeral, not the date you receive the invoice.
To apply by phone:
- Call the Bereavement Service helpline: 0800 731 0469
- Have your National Insurance number, qualifying benefit details, and funeral cost breakdown ready
- The adviser completes the SF200 form on your behalf during the call
To apply by post, download the SF200 form from GOV.UK and return it to the address printed on the form.
What happens after you apply
The DWP writes to you once it reaches a decision. Processing times vary, but most claims receive a response within a few weeks. Any payment goes directly to the funeral director, not to you personally, so let your funeral director know you have applied. If your claim is refused, the decision letter will explain the reason, and you have the right to ask the DWP to look at the decision again.
Keep a copy of every document you send to the DWP so you have a clear record if any queries arise later.
What to do if you cannot get help with funeral costs
If the gov.uk help with funeral costs scheme is not available to you because you do not receive a qualifying benefit or your relationship to the deceased does not meet the criteria, you still have practical options. Several routes exist that can reduce or cover the cost of a funeral without leaving you in serious debt.
Choose a lower-cost funeral type
Direct cremation is one of the most effective ways to bring the total bill down without reducing the care and dignity given to the deceased. It removes the elements that push a traditional funeral price up sharply, including:
- The funeral ceremony at the crematorium
- The hearse and limousines
- Embalming and viewing facilities
- Floral tributes and order of service printing
You can still hold a separate memorial or celebration of life at a later date, in a location of your choosing, with no time pressure attached.
Check other financial support options
Local councils sometimes run hardship funds for families who cannot meet funeral costs, so contact your council directly and ask what assistance is available in your area. The DWP’s Budgeting Loan is available to people on certain legacy benefits and carries no interest, though you do need to repay it. Some charities also offer grants based on the deceased’s occupation, cause of death, or other personal circumstances, so it is worth researching what applies to your situation.
Contact a Citizens Advice adviser before you commit to any funeral arrangements, as they can identify every source of local and national support available to you.
Next steps
You now have a clear picture of how the Funeral Expenses Payment works, who can claim it, and exactly what to do at each stage. If you qualify, call 0800 731 0469 as soon as the funeral is confirmed so your claim starts before the 6-month window closes. Gather your National Insurance number, your qualifying benefit details, and a cost breakdown from your funeral director before you dial.
If gov.uk help with funeral costs is not available to you, reducing the overall bill is the most direct way to ease the financial pressure. A direct cremation keeps costs low without compromising the care given to the person who has died, and it gives your family full control over any memorial held afterwards.
Go Direct Cremations handles everything with transparency and compassion, 24 hours a day. Find out how our service works and what it costs by visiting Go Direct Cremations.