Funeral Expenses Payment (GOV.UK)
If you are arranging a funeral and cannot afford it, you could get a payment to help if you or your partner get certain benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income-related ESA or Housing Benefit. The GOV.UK page explains who qualifies and how to claim.
Good to know
If you live in Scotland, the Scottish payment is the Funeral Support Payment instead, and Northern Ireland has its own scheme through nidirect. The payment is deducted from anything you get from the deceased's estate. If they had a pre-paid funeral plan, you can only get up to 120 pounds for items it does not cover.
Before you call
Have ready
- the date the person died, your National Insurance number and your bank or building society details
- to claim Bereavement Support Payment: your partner's National Insurance number as well
- to claim Funeral Expenses Payment before the funeral: an invoice or signed contract from the funeral director, not an estimate
They can
- take a Funeral Expenses Payment claim by phone on the Bereavement Service helpline, 0800 151 2012, and help you claim any other bereavement benefits you may be entitled to
- take a Bereavement Support Payment claim by phone on the same helpline
- check whether the death will affect any other benefits you already claim
- take Relay UK calls (18001 then 0800 151 2012) and calls in Welsh on 0800 731 0453
They cannot
- answer outside Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- take claims from Northern Ireland: there is a different way to claim there
- pay Funeral Expenses Payment in Scotland: Scotland has Funeral Support Payment instead
In the emergency guides: Someone died →
- Website
- https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments
- Coverage
- England and Wales
- Languages
- English, Welsh
- Last checked
- October 3, 2026
See something out of date or wrong? Tell us by email.
Shared by FindAngel.org — free, always · https://findangel.org/resources/uk-funeral-expenses-payment/