Funeral Payments

Funeral Payments are payable to people who get an income-related benefit and have taken responsibility for paying the funeral expenses of a person who has died.

Basic qualifying conditions

You may be able to get a Funeral Payment if you or your partner have taken responsibility for paying the funeral expenses of:

• Your deceased partner or child, or
• A close relative or close friend of yours who has died as long as it is reasonable for you to accept responsibility for those expenses (which will depend on the level of contact you had with the person who has died).

To get a payment you or your partner must be entitled to an income-related benefit when:

• The claim for a funeral payment is made, and
• The person in question died

Those benefits are:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Employed Person’s Allowance

But you cannot get a Funeral Payment if you and your partner together have capital of more than £6,000.

Amount

The amount of a Funeral Payment takes into account the actual funeral costs (up to a maximum) and may be reduced if any assets are made available to you from the estate to pay towards the funeral costs.

How and when should I apply

Complete claim form FP1 – Funeral Payment and form FP2 (to be completed in part by the Funeral Director) and take or send them to the address above. You must claim within 12 months of the date of death or you will not be entitled to a Funeral Payment.