If you’re on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging you may be eligible for a payment towards the cost of the funeral arrangements from the Social Fund.
(If the person who has died was a UK resident and the funeral has taken place in the UK).
This is a government scheme which helps people on lower incomes deal with critical funeral expenses.
It is only possible to make a claim from the date of death up to three months after the funeral.
The Social Fund will later recover the Funeral Payment from the deceased’s estate if there are funds available
However, they don’t count the property occupied by the partner of the person who has passed away, or personal possessions left to relatives as part of the estate.
Learn more about the qualifications for Funeral Payments on the GOV.UK website and what you might receive.
To make a claim for a funeral payment from the fund, download and complete form SF200 from the GOV.UK website (PDF 155KB) and bring it to your local Jobcentre Plus.
Alternatively you can call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0345 606 0265.
If you reside in Northern Ireland, you can get in touch with the Social Security Agency Bereavement Service.
In Northern Ireland, download and complete the form SF200 (PDF 168KB) from the Social Security Agency and deliver it to your Social Security Office or Jobs and Benefits Office.
You may be eligible if you or your partner are getting any of the following benefits or tax credits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit (or the Council Tax payer where you live gets a Second Adult Rebate because you are on a low income)
- Working Tax Credit which includes a disability or severe disability element
- Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
Please note: You might have to repay some or all of it from the estate of the person who died. Find out more information including how to claim.
Find out more information contact your local job centre plus or follow the link below: