Help with funeral costs
If price is a concern for you, please don’t be worried about talking to us. We are knowledgeable about financial help you may be entitled to as well as in ways funeral costs can be reduced.
We will work with you to create a meaningful and dignified funeral whatever your budget.
FUNERAL EXPENSES PAYMENT
You could get a Funeral Expenses Payment if you get certain benefits and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging.
Funeral Expenses Payment can help pay for some of the costs of the following:
burial fees for a particular plot
cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor’s certificate
travel to arrange or go to the funeral
the cost of moving the body within the UK, if it’s being moved more than 50 miles
death certificates or other documents
You can also get up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers or the coffin.
The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral.
How much you get depends on your circumstances. This includes any other money that’s available to cover the costs, for example from an insurance policy or the deceased person’s estate.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT PAYMENT
You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died in the last 21 months.
If you qualify for the payment, you’ll get a first payment and then up to 18 monthly payments. There are 2 rates.
| First payment | Monthly payment | |
|---|---|---|
| Higher rate | £3,500 | £350 |
| Lower rate | £2,500 | £100 |
If you get Child Benefit (or if you do not get it but are entitled to it), you’ll get the higher rate.
If you do not get Child Benefit, you’ll get the lower rate unless you were pregnant when your husband, wife or civil partner died.
You could be eligible if your partner either:
Paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year since 6 April 1975
Died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work
When they died you must have been:
Under State Pension age
Living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits
DOWN TO EARTH
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