DWP Funeral Grant

What is a Funeral Payment?

A Funeral Payment is to help with funeral costs that you are responsible for if you’re on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging.

How much you get depends on your circumstances and if you qualify.

Can I get a Funeral Payment?

You qualify for a Funeral Payment if you, or your partner, are getting one of the following benefits:

Income Support
Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Pension Credit (guarantee or savings credit)
Housing Benefit
Working Tax Credit (disability or severe disability element)
Child Tax Credit (at a rate higher than £545 per year)
Universal Credit

You will not be granted a Funeral Payment just because you are paying for a funeral. The benefits office has to agree that it is reasonable for you to be responsible for paying for the funeral and that there is no one else who should be paying for it.

If you are a close relative, family member or a friend of the person who has died, you may be able to get a Funeral Payment, but this will depend on whether there is someone closer or equally close to the person who has died who is not getting benefits. In this situation, the benefits office will consider how well you knew the person who has died and whether it is reasonable for you to accept responsibility for the funeral expenses.

The funeral usually has to take place in the UK to qualify for a Funeral Payment but some may be covered if they take place in an EEA country. You should seek advice if the funeral is not in the UK; you can use our Find an Adviser tool or call the DWP Bereavement Service or Northern Ireland Bereavement Service.

How much Funeral Payment will I get?

There is no fixed sum for a Funeral Payment.

A Funeral Payment can cover:

Necessary burial or cremation fees
The cost of documents needed for the release of the money, savings and property of the person who has died
Part of the cost of moving the body to a place of rest (if in the UK and over 50 miles)Part of the cost of transporting the coffin and bearers to the funeral (if in the UK and over 50 miles)The cost of one return journey for you to arrange or attend the funeral
Up to £700 for other costs related to the funeral such as the funeral director's fees, the coffin, cars or flowers.

If the person who died had a pre-paid funeral plan you will not get any help towards costs already covered by the plan. You may still get help with necessary costs not covered or only partly covered by the plan and up to £120 towards other costs related to the funeral.

If the Funeral Payment does not cover the full necessary costs of the funeral, you may be able to apply for a Budgeting Loan as well.

A Funeral Payment does not usually have to be repaid, however, if the person who died left assets and/or money in their estate, this might have to be used to pay back the Funeral Payment. A home lived in by the partner of the person who has died is not counted, nor are personal possessions left to relatives.

How will I be paid a Funeral Payment?

Funeral Payment is paid into your bank, building society or post office account if you’ve already paid for the funeral. However, it will be paid directly to the organiser of the funeral (for example, the funeral director) if you haven’t paid yet.

How do I claim a Funeral Payment?

You must claim a Funeral Payment within 3 months of the funeral taking place.

England and Wales

Telephone Claim

DWP Bereavement Service - Tel: 0345 606 0265

Telephone Jobcentre Plus for a claim form - Tel: 0800 055 6688

Paper Claim

Download a claim form from the Gov.UK website

Phone: 01827 767 430

Contact Details

Our Funeral Services