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Funeral Expenses Payment: Help with Funeral Costs
A Funeral Expenses Payment can help if you or your partner get a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, and you are responsible for a funeral as a partner, parent or close relative. It covers burial or cremation fees, some travel and death certificates, plus up to £1,000 for other costs such as funeral director fees. You must apply within 6 months of the funeral. It is repaid from the person's estate.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Funeral Expenses Payment
Who Can Get It
You or your partner must get a qualifying benefit or tax credit, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Child Tax Credit. Your relationship to the person matters: partners, parents and close relatives or friends may qualify. The funeral must be in the UK, the EEA or Switzerland. source
What It Covers
Burial plot or cremation fees, travel to arrange or attend the funeral, moving the body within the UK if over 50 miles, and death certificates, plus up to £1,000 for other costs like funeral director fees, flowers or the coffin. It usually does not cover the full cost. source
How and When to Claim
Apply within 6 months of the funeral, by phone through the Bereavement Service helpline or with form SF200. You can claim before the funeral with an invoice or signed contract. Any payment is taken from money you receive from the estate. Scotland has a Funeral Support Payment instead. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 6 monthsApplyAfter the funeral
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check you or your partner get a qualifying benefit.
Step 2 of 5
Get an invoice or signed contract from the funeral director.
Step 3 of 5
Call the Bereavement Service or fill in form SF200.
Step 4 of 5
Keep receipts for travel and certificates.
Step 5 of 5
Ask for a mandatory reconsideration if refused.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Bereavement Service
DWP helpline for Bereavement Support Payment and Funeral Expenses Payment.
Mandatory Reconsideration (GOV.UK)
The first step to change a decision. Usually within one month.
Citizens Advice
Free, independent help with benefits, including challenges and appeals.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Ask the funeral director for a simple funeral quote before you commit, as the payment rarely covers everything.
Rules here are for England and Wales. Scotland has its own disability and carer benefits from Social Security Scotland, and Northern Ireland benefits are run through nidirect.
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Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 16 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- hmrc.gov.uk/funeral-payments/print Checked 16 October 2026
- gov.uk/mandatory-reconsideration Checked 13 October 2026