Guide to the DWP Funeral Expenses Payment
What It Covers and How to Claim
Funerals are expensive at the best of times, and for families on a low income, finding several thousand pounds at short notice simply is not possible. The Funeral Expenses Payment, run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), exists to help with exactly this.
It will not usually cover the full cost of a funeral, but for those who qualify, it can make a real difference. This guide walks through who can claim, what it covers, how much you might get, and how the claims process actually works.
What the Funeral Expenses Payment Is
The Funeral Expenses Payment, sometimes called the Funeral Payment, is part of the government’s wider Social Fund. It is designed to help people on certain low income benefits pay for a funeral they are responsible for arranging, whether for a partner, close relative, or in some cases a friend where there is no closer relative able to help.
It is important to understand from the outset that this payment is rarely enough to cover an entire funeral on its own. It is best thought of as meaningful help toward the cost, alongside other funeral financing options, rather than a full solution. For a wider look at how families typically manage funeral costs, our guide to funeral financing options covers payment plans, pre-paid plans and other routes worth knowing about.
Who Can Claim the Funeral Expenses Payment
Eligibility depends on two things: your relationship to the person who died, and whether you receive a qualifying benefit or tax credit.
You may be able to claim if you are the partner of the person who died, a close relative or friend, or the parent of a baby who was stillborn, and you are responsible for arranging the funeral. Alongside this, you or your partner must be receiving at least one of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
There are also specific rules about your relationship to the person who died. If a closer relative of the deceased is not on a low income and could reasonably be expected to pay, this can affect your claim, so it is worth checking the detailed rules on the GOV.UK eligibility page before applying, since circumstances vary quite a lot between families.
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What the Payment Can Cover
The Funeral Expenses Payment can help with several specific elements of a funeral, rather than being a single lump sum for anything and everything.
- Burial fees, including the cost of a plot, or cremation fees, including the doctor’s certificate
- Up to £1,000 for other funeral expenses, such as the funeral director’s fees, a coffin, or flowers
- Travel costs to arrange or attend the funeral, in some circumstances
- The cost of moving the body within the UK, if this is more than 50 miles
- Death certificates or other necessary documents
If the person who died had a pre-paid funeral plan already in place, the payment is more limited, generally only covering up to £120 for costs not already included in that plan. It is worth mentioning this clearly when you apply, since it changes how the claim is assessed.
How Much You Could Get
There is no single fixed amount for the Funeral Expenses Payment, since it depends on your individual circumstances, including what other money might already be available to cover the funeral, such as an insurance payout or money from the deceased’s estate.
As a broad guide, the payment can cover burial or cremation fees in full, plus up to £1,000 toward other costs. Because average funeral costs in the UK often run well beyond this, particularly in more expensive areas, it is worth reading our guide on funeral costs by postcode to get a realistic sense of what you might still need to cover yourself.
Repaying the Payment
One detail that catches many families off guard is that the Funeral Expenses Payment is not simply a grant with no strings attached. If the person who died left an estate, meaning money, savings or property, you will usually be expected to repay some or all of the payment from that estate once it is settled.
This does not apply to a house or personal belongings left to a surviving partner, and it does not affect money you receive that has nothing to do with the deceased’s estate. If there is no estate, or the estate is very small, repayment is often minimal or not required at all. This is worth understanding early, so there are no surprises once probate is dealt with.
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How to Claim
You can claim the Funeral Expenses Payment in a few different ways, and timing matters, since claims must usually be made within three months of the funeral taking place.
- Apply by phone through the Bereavement Service helpline, who can also check what other bereavement benefits you might be entitled to
- Apply by post using the SF200 claim form, available directly from GOV.UK
- You can claim even while waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit, so do not delay simply because another claim is still pending
- You can also apply before the funeral takes place if you already have an invoice, though an estimate alone is not accepted
Full details, including current phone numbers and the claim form itself, are available on the official GOV.UK Funeral Expenses Payment page, which is worth bookmarking as you go through the process, since guidance is updated from time to time.
What Happens if You Are in Scotland or Northern Ireland
The Funeral Expenses Payment described here applies in England and Wales. If you live in Scotland, the equivalent support is called the Funeral Support Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP, with its own separate eligibility rules and application process.
If you live in Northern Ireland, funeral support is available through a similar scheme, with details available via nidirect. It is worth checking the correct scheme for your nation before applying, since applying to the wrong service can cause unnecessary delays at an already difficult time.
If You Are Struggling With the Rest of the Cost
Because the Funeral Expenses Payment rarely covers everything, many families still need to think carefully about the remaining balance. Speaking honestly with your funeral director about your financial situation early on genuinely helps, since many are able to suggest simpler packages or flexible payment plans once they understand your circumstances. Our guide on what to ask a funeral director includes specific questions about cost and payment flexibility worth raising at your first meeting.
It is also worth checking whether you might be eligible for the separate Bereavement Support Payment, which is not tied specifically to funeral costs but can still ease overall financial pressure during this period.
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Find a Funeral Director Who Understands Your Situation
Whatever support you are entitled to, choosing a funeral director who is upfront, patient and genuinely willing to work with your budget makes this process considerably easier. Our free tool helps you compare local funeral directors by postcode or town, so you can find one who fits both your needs and your circumstances.
Search for funeral directors near you to get started, or visit our funeral planning resource library for more guides like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may be eligible if you are responsible for arranging the funeral, are closely related to or the partner of the person who died, and you or your partner receive certain low income benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Income Support.
It can cover burial or cremation fees in full, plus up to £1,000 toward other funeral costs such as the funeral director’s fees, coffin or flowers, though the exact amount depends on your circumstances.
Often yes, if the person who died left an estate. The amount you received is usually deducted from the estate once it is settled, though this does not apply to a house or belongings left to a surviving partner.
You must usually apply within three months of the funeral taking place, though you can apply before the funeral if you already have an invoice from the funeral director.
No. In Scotland, the equivalent support is called the Funeral Support Payment and is administered separately by Social Security Scotland, with its own eligibility rules.