Funeral Expenses Payment 2026: Eligibility, Amounts and How to Apply

Funeral Expenses Payment is government financial support for funeral costs if you are on a qualifying benefit and arranging the funeral.

It is not called a "grant" because it is technically a loan against the Estate. The DWP can recover the money from the deceased person's estate after probate.

This is a critical distinction that changes how the scheme works.

You can claim Funeral Expenses Payment if both of these are true:

1. You are on a qualifying benefit
2. You are arranging the funeral

Qualifying benefits (you must be on one)

• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) income-based
• Employment Support Allowance (ESA) income-related
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credit (with or without Working Tax Credit)
• Working Tax Credit with disability element

Important: You must be on the benefit at the time of death or within 26 weeks before death.

Who counts as "arranging the funeral"?

You are arranging the funeral if:

• You are making the decisions (where the funeral happens, the type of service, etc.)
• You are paying the funeral director
• You are organising the ceremony
• You are the executor of the will (if applicable)
• You are the next of kin (if no will)

You do not need to be the sole arranger. If you are arranging it with others, you can still apply.

Who can claim if there is more than one person?

Usually only one person claims. If multiple people are involved, typically the person paying the bills or the Executor applies.

If there is a will, the executor should apply (they have clearer authority).

If there is no will, the next of kin usually applies (often the surviving spouse or eldest adult child).

What is included

The scheme covers "necessary" funeral expenses, including:

• Funeral director's fees: The main cost
• Burial or cremation fees: Gravedigging, crematorium fees, etc.
• The coffin or casket
• Flowers and wreaths: Up to a reasonable amount
• Order of Service: Printed service sheets
• Organist or musician fees
• Hire of venue: For the wake (sometimes, if essential)
• Religious requirements: E.g., a priest's fee for a blessing

What is NOT included

• Headstones or memorial plaques
• Catering for the wake: Food and drink
• Parties or celebrations after the funeral
• Travel costs: Your travel to the funeral
• Newspaper obituaries
• Post-funeral entertainment or events

The scheme is intentionally narrow. It covers the funeral itself, not the aftermath or celebrations.

The average Funeral Expenses Payment is £1,600–£2,000, but it varies.

How it is calculated

The DWP pays the actual cost of "necessary" funeral expenses, up to a maximum of approximately £5,000 (though the actual limit varies and can change).

The DWP also adds up to £1,000 for other reasonable expenses not covered by the limit above.

The DWP does not always pay the full amount

If your claim is for expenses the DWP deems "unnecessary," they will ask you to cut costs or will not reimburse the full amount.

Common rejections include:

• "The flowers were too expensive" - DWP suggests a lower amount was reasonable
• "The funeral venue hire was not essential" - DWP refuses that charge
• "The catering should have been basic" - DWP halves the catering allowance

You can appeal if you think the DWP's decision was wrong.

You must apply within 6 months of the funeral date. It is better to apply sooner.

Option 1: By phone (fastest)

Call the DWP: 0800 731 0469

Available:

• Monday to Friday: 8am–5:30pm
• Saturday: 9am–2pm
• Closed Sundays

You will speak to an agent who confirms your eligibility, takes your details, the funeral director's costs, and explains next steps.

Processing time after phone call: Usually 4–6 weeks

Option 2: By form (SF200)

Request the SF200 form from the DWP on 0800 731 0469, or download it from www.gov.uk/funeral-payments.

The form asks for your personal details, the deceased's details, proof of qualifying benefit, the funeral director's invoice, a statement confirming you arranged the funeral, and your bank details for payment.

Processing time: Usually 4–6 weeks from receipt.

Option 3: By post (slowest)

Write to: DWP, Bereavement Services, Room 5D54, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA

Include a letter explaining your application, your qualifying benefit details, the deceased's information, the funeral director's invoice, a statement that you arranged the funeral, and your bank details.

Processing time: 6–8 weeks.

Proof of benefit

• Recent award letter from your benefit provider
• A letter from the DWP confirming your current benefits
• Your National Insurance number
• Your date of birth

Proof the funeral has happened

• The funeral director's invoice or receipt
• A copy of the death certificate
• The order of service or funeral programme

Proof of relationship

• Marriage certificate (if spouse)
• Birth certificate (if child)
• Proof of residence (if you were living together)

Your bank details

For the DWP to pay the money into your account. The payment goes directly to you, not the funeral director.

• Week 1: You contact the DWP (phone is fastest)
• Week 1–2: DWP confirms your eligibility and takes your details
• Week 2–3: You submit the funeral director's invoice and supporting documents (if not done on the phone)
• Week 4–8: The DWP processes the application and makes a decision
• Week 8–10: Payment is made to your bank account

Total time: 4–10 weeks, depending on how quickly you apply and submit documents.

This is the biggest gotcha most people do not understand.

Funeral Expenses Payment is technically a loan against the deceased's estate.

The DWP can (and often does) recover the money from the estate after Probate is granted.

How estate recovery works

1. After probate is granted, the DWP will send a letter to the executor
2. The executor has the "funeral expenses debt" listed as a priority claim on the estate
3. This debt must be paid before any money goes to beneficiaries
4. If the estate is small and there is nothing to recover from, the DWP usually forgets about it

What if the estate is very small?

If the deceased's estate is smaller than the Funeral Expenses Payment (e.g., you got £1,800 and the estate is worth £500), the DWP cannot recover more than the estate contains.

The DWP can try to recover from what is there, but they cannot force you to pay out of your own pocket.

The DWP might refuse if:

• You are not on a qualifying benefit
• You did not apply within 6 months
• You are not arranging the funeral (wrong person applying)
• The claimed expenses are deemed "excessive"
• You did not provide sufficient evidence

Appealing a refusal

If you are refused:

1. Ask for a written explanation of why the decision was made
2. Request a reconsideration if you think they have made an error (there is no formal appeal, but you can ask them to look again)
3. Provide new evidence if you have it
4. Contact the Bereavement Services team directly: 0800 731 0469

You have one month to ask for reconsideration.

Before the funeral

• Ask the funeral director for an itemised quote
• Get quotes from multiple funeral directors (some are significantly cheaper)
• Check if you qualify for Funeral Expenses Payment before committing to expensive choices
• Ask the funeral director if they can defer payment until after Funeral Expenses Payment is received

Budget options

• A simple cremation costs £800–£1,200
• A basic burial costs £1,500–£2,000
• Funeral director's fees range from £1,500–£3,500+
• You can have a simple ceremony without expensive flowers or catering

Other support to consider

• Charitable organisations: The Trussell Trust, local churches, etc. sometimes help with funeral costs
• Employer death benefit: Some employers pay lump sums if the deceased was employed
• Insurance policies: Life insurance, mortgage protection insurance
• Crowdfunding: Some families ask friends and family to help pay
• Family contributions: Parents, siblings, etc. might help

If the deceased had no eligible family

If the deceased has no family or the family cannot afford to pay, the local authority or NHS (if the person died in hospital) can arrange a simple burial or cremation.

The DWP's Bereavement Services can guide you: 0800 731 0469

If the funeral was arranged by a charity or local authority

You can still claim Funeral Expenses Payment. The rules are the same. You will need the charity's or local authority's invoice.

If the person was part of a religion with expensive requirements

The DWP considers religious requirements "necessary." A ritual bath, specific prayers, or a religious burial site are usually approved. Include documentation explaining the religious requirement (a letter from the religious leader helps).

If the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan

If the person had already paid for a funeral in advance, you might not need Funeral Expenses Payment at all. But if the plan did not cover everything, you can claim for the additional costs.

You can receive the money before probate is granted

Unlike some benefits, you do not have to wait for probate to complete. The DWP pays you quickly (4–6 weeks), even if probate will not be granted for months. This is helpful because you need the money immediately. Some banks will also release money from the deceased's account to cover funeral costs; see our notifying banks guide for details.

The DWP does not recover if the estate is very small

If the estate is worth less than the amount you received, the DWP usually does not chase it. They are not interested in pursuing small amounts. But they can, so the liability technically remains.

The DWP counts as a priority debt on the estate

After you die, the Funeral Expenses Payment is one of the first things the executor must pay. It comes after essential costs (solicitor fees, tax) but before beneficiaries receive anything. This affects how beneficiaries split the estate.

Some funeral directors will wait for payment

If you tell them you are claiming Funeral Expenses Payment, many funeral directors will wait for the DWP to pay them directly. Ask about this. Some will even request payment directly from the DWP on your behalf.

You cannot claim for a private wake or celebration

Even if it is cultural or important to your family, "celebration of life" parties, catering, and post-funeral gatherings are not covered. The DWP's line is: the payment is for the funeral itself, not the party after.

The amount varies by DWP assessment

Two identical funerals might receive different amounts depending on which DWP agent assesses the claim. There is some discretion built into "reasonable" expenses. This means there is room to appeal if you think the decision is unfair.

It takes longer if you are still processing grief

The application asks for lots of detail and proof. You might not have everything organised yet. That is okay; apply when you are ready. You have 6 months.

1. Check if you are on a qualifying benefit (Universal Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit, etc.)
2. Call the DWP: 0800 731 0469 within a few weeks of the funeral
3. Confirm your eligibility and take notes on what to send
4. Gather the funeral director's invoice and supporting documents
5. Complete form SF200 (if applying by post) or provide details over the phone
6. Send everything to the DWP or submit online
7. Wait 4–6 weeks for a decision
8. Payment arrives in your bank account
9. Inform the executor that the DWP may recover the amount from the estate

• DWP Bereavement Services: 0800 731 0469 (Mon–Fri 8am–5:30pm, Sat 9am–2pm)
• Funeral Expenses Payment (online): www.gov.uk/funeral-payments
• Form SF200: www.gov.uk/government/publications/funeral-payment-claim-form
• DWP post: DWP, Bereavement Services, Room 5D54, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA
• Northern Ireland (DfC): 0800 0854 0854

Once you have applied for Funeral Expenses Payment, you will also need to:

• Understand probate and estate administration
• Notify banks and close accounts
• Claim bereavement benefits you might be entitled to