Press release: Claiming a Funeral Payment to be made easier

Improvements to make it easier to claim a Funeral Payment will be brought in next year, the government has announced.

Funeral Payments are available to people who receive certain income-related benefits to help pay towards the cost of a funeral for an immediate friend or relative.

The government consulted on reforms to make it clearer who is eligible for a payment and make it easier for people to claim.

Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance Caroline Dinenage said:

Losing a loved one is a sad and difficult time and we want to make the process of claiming a funeral payment as simple as possible.

I want to thank those who responded to our consultation and I am pleased that we will be bringing in all its recommendations to make it easier for people to make a claim.

The improvements include:

  • allowing recipients of a Funeral Payment to receive contributions from relatives, friends or charities without it being deducted from the payment
  • extending the claim period from 3 to 6 months from the date of the funeral
  • allowing applicants to submit evidence electronically to speed up the processing of claims and get decisions to claimants sooner
  • introducing a shorter application form for children’s funerals

Funeral Payments can help pay for the costs of a simple, respectful funeral for people on qualifying benefits. This includes:

  • burial fees and exclusive rights of burial in a particular plot
  • medical certification fees needed for cremations, 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
  • up to £700 for other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers or the coffin

People in receipt of the following benefits may be eligible for a Funeral Payment:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Working Tax Credit which includes a disability or severe disability element
  • Child Tax Credit

The changes will be brought in next year.

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