Help with Funeral Costs

Everyone is entitled to a minimum of a simple, decent and respectful funeral. If you are making the funeral arrangements and receive benefits, you may be able to apply for help from the Social Fund.

What you can get help with

The Social Fund Funeral Payment covers:

• the council's burial or cremation charges
• up to £700 of funeral expenses (to include the funeral directors costs and the cost of a coffin)
  

The payment does not include provision of flowers or obituaries, nor will it cover any ceremony costs (religious or not). See the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) website for more information.

A Funeral Payment may be reduced in certain circumstances. In particular, the following will be deducted from an award:

• any assets of the deceased available to you or your partner
• any lump sum due on the death of the deceased for funeral costs
• any contribution for the funeral from a charity or relative (of both yourself and the deceased)
• any funeral grant where the deceased was a war pensioner.

Who can get help

To qualify, you or your partner (spouse or someone you live with as if you are married to them) must be receiving one of these benefits or tax credits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit where a disabled worker is included in the assessment
• Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit

and it must be reasonable for you to have taken responsibility for the funeral expenses. This would usually mean that you were the partner of the deceased. If they had no partner, then you would be a close relative or very close friend.

How to claim

You can claim a Funeral Payment from the date of death and up to 3 months after the date of the funeral. Funeral Payments are usually made by cheque in the funeral director’s name. To make a claim you will need to contact Eastbourne Jobcentre Plus for the SF200 form.

Eastbourne Jobcentre Plus
St Annes House
2 St Annes Road
Eastbourne
United Kingdom
BN21 3XX
Telephone: 01323 413000