Help with Funeral Costs

The following information should be treated as general guidance. We are not able to guarantee the availability of a loan but we do understand how the Department for Work and Pensions makes a decision.

Who is entitled to help?
You may receive help if there is not enough money to pay for the funeral and you are responsible for making the funeral arrangements and you or your partner are receiving any of the following benefits: Family Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.

Check what amount of money is available from:-

• The estate of the person who has died, such as money from bank or building society accounts
• Any insurance policies of charities, lump sum payments made by a pension scheme or relatives (either yours or those of the person who has died).
• Any savings you have in a bank or building society, National Savings (including certificates or premium bonds) or in cash at home.
• The savings may be in your name or the name of your partner.
• The Widows' Payment does not count as savings

The Social Fund may make a contribution towards the cost of a simple funeral within the United Kingdom. This includes:

• Bringing the deceased home if the person died away from home but within the United Kingdom
• The Death Certificate
• A Standard coffin
  The Hearse for the coffin and bearers
• Contribution towards fees of funeral director to include chaplain and organist fee
• Cemetery fee or Crematorium fee
• Doctors' fees