Bereaved families to receive funeral payments quicker

Families grieving the loss of a loved one will find it easier to get help to meet upfront funeral costs, as a result of a new change to speed up Funeral Expenses Payment claims.

Previously, a Funeral Expense Payment claim could not be processed without a confirmed date for the funeral to take place, which could lead to longer waiting times for payments to be processed.

But following an important change, families will now be able to make a claim with an estimated funeral date, providing that other key information is supplied. The ability to use an estimated date in a claim is set to significantly speed up the process and payment.  

DWP Minister Will Quince said:

These important changes will make the very difficult time of planning a funeral or cremation that bit easier for bereaved families.

Helping families access Funeral Expenses Payments sooner and more quickly means they can focus on the much more important task of arranging a proper send-off for their loved one.

Around 800 claims are received each week by the Department for Work and Pensions Bereavement Support team.

This new move to speed up the Funeral Expenses Payment process is in addition to a recent change in the evidence required to process a claim. Recent improvements mean that instead of a final invoice – which is usually received after the funeral – families can instead supply a funeral director contract as an indication of funeral cost. This evidence can be submitted to the Bereavement Support team in advance of a funeral, therefore ensuring earlier access to financial support.

Media enquiries for this press release – 020 3267 5108

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