In this guide
If a child has died: the Children's Funeral Fund
The Children's Funeral Fund for England can pay the burial or cremation fees for a child under 18, or a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy, plus up to £300 for the coffin, shroud or casket. The burial or cremation must take place in England. It is not means-tested and has no benefit condition. The fees are claimed directly by the burial or cremation provider — you should not be charged for them — and if you use a funeral director, they claim the other expenses on your behalf. The fund is separate from Funeral Expenses Payment and can be used alongside it. See our My Child Has Died guide for the full details.
Quick answer
Funeral Expenses Payment is a DWP contribution toward funeral costs if you are responsible for arranging the funeral and you or your partner get a qualifying benefit. It can cover necessary burial or cremation costs, some travel and document costs, and up to £1,000 for other funeral expenses. You must claim within 6 months of the funeral. Money from the deceased person's estate can reduce what DWP pays.
What is Funeral Expenses Payment?
Funeral Expenses Payment (FEP) is a benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that helps people on low incomes cover the cost of a funeral they are arranging. It is not a grant that covers the full cost, because DWP caps several parts of the support, but it can make a real difference if you are struggling to pay the funeral bill.
The payment is linked to your existing benefit entitlement rather than a separate income assessment. If you or your partner receive one of the qualifying benefits listed below, DWP uses that benefit status as the main financial condition.
Scotland is different
If you live in Scotland, apply for Funeral Support Payment through Social Security Scotland instead. It helps with funeral costs for a baby, child, or adult and will usually not cover the full funeral bill. Apply at mygov.scot.
Who is eligible?
To receive Funeral Expenses Payment, all three of the following conditions must apply to you:
1. You (or your partner) must be receiving at least one qualifying benefit
You may also qualify if you are receiving a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. You can claim even if you have applied for a qualifying benefit and are still waiting for a decision — you do not need to have received your first payment yet.
2. You must have the right relationship to the deceased
Your relationship to the person who died is one part of DWP's eligibility test:
| Your relationship | Can you claim? |
|---|---|
| Partner (spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner) of the deceased | Yes — if you receive a qualifying benefit |
| Parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy | Yes — if you receive a qualifying benefit |
| Parent or person responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 in approved education or training) | Yes — if you receive a qualifying benefit |
| Close relative or friend of the person who died (for example a sibling, parent or friend) | Possibly — only in the limited situations explained in the close relative rule below |
The close relative rule
If you are a close relative or friend of the person who died, GOV.UK says you might be able to claim if the person who died did not have a partner, or if their partner — or, for a child, a parent — cannot claim, for example because they live abroad or are in prison. DWP may also consider the circumstances of other close relatives.
The other-relative check can catch families out. If a close relative of the person who died is in work or not on a qualifying benefit, you might not get a payment — even if that relative has had nothing to do with arranging or paying for the funeral. For example: if you are arranging your parent's funeral while receiving Universal Credit, but your brother is in work (even if he is not helping), DWP may consider his circumstances and your claim may be affected.
This check can affect a claim even when you have taken practical responsibility for the funeral. If you are refused and you think DWP has misunderstood the family situation, ask for the decision to be looked at again and consider getting welfare rights advice before appealing.
3. The funeral must be in the UK, EEA, or Switzerland
The funeral must take place in the UK, a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland. Funerals held elsewhere are not covered.
What does Funeral Expenses Payment cover?
The payment can help with specified burial, cremation, travel and document costs, plus a capped amount for other funeral expenses.
Costs FEP can help with
- Burial fees for a particular plot
- Cremation fees (including the doctor's certificate)
- Travel to arrange or attend the funeral
- Moving the body within the UK if more than 50 miles
- Death certificates and other necessary documents
Up to £1,000 for other expenses
You can receive up to £1,000 toward any other funeral expenses, such as:
- Funeral director's fees
- Coffin or casket
- Flowers
- Order of service printing
- Hearse and limousine hire
What it does not cover
FEP will not usually cover the full cost of a funeral. In particular, it will not cover:
- The part of other funeral expenses that exceeds the £1,000 cap
- Funeral costs abroad (outside UK, EEA, or Switzerland)
- Costs already covered by a pre-paid funeral plan (see below)
Important: estate deduction
DWP takes account of money available from the deceased's estate when it works out the payment. If estate money becomes available later, the Funeral Expenses Payment may have to be repaid from it. For this rule, GOV.UK says the estate does notinclude a house or personal things left to a widow, widower, or surviving civil partner.
Pre-paid funeral plans
DWP cannot pay again for costs fully covered by a pre-paid funeral plan. Its current claim notes say it may help with specified eligible costs not covered, or only partly covered, by the plan, plus up to £120 for other funeral expenses.
How to claim
6-month deadline — do not delay
You must claim within 6 months of the funeral. Do not assume this deadline can be extended. Even if you are waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit, submit your FEP claim before the 6 months are up.
You can claim before the funeral takes place, provided you have a signed invoice or contract from the funeral director (not just an estimate). You do not need to wait until after the funeral to start the process.
If you claim by phone, call the DWP Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012. GOV.UK lists the line as open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
If you get Universal Credit, you will not get a decision on your Funeral Expenses Payment claim until after your next Universal Credit payment — plan for that gap when you agree payment terms with the funeral director.
Claim by phone (recommended)
Call the DWP Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). An adviser will take your claim and can also check whether you are entitled to other bereavement benefits, such as Bereavement Support Payment.
Claim by post
Download and complete form SF200 from gov.uk — there are adult and child versions of the form. Send it to Freepost DWP Funeral Payments (no stamp or postcode needed) or take it to your nearest jobcentre. Allow enough time for DWP to receive the claim within the 6-month deadline.
What you will need when claiming
How the money is paid
If you have already paid for the funeral, the money will be paid into your bank, building society, or credit union account. If you have not yet paid, DWP will pay the funeral director directly.
Keep the claim record with the estate papers
Keep the funeral invoice, who paid it, the claim date, any DWP reference and the payment decision with the estate records. This gives the personal representatives a clear trail if estate money later becomes available or DWP asks about repayment.
If your claim is refused
If DWP refuses your claim, you can ask DWP to look at the decision again, and you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal if you still disagree. Reasons DWP may give include:
| Reason for refusal | What to do |
|---|---|
| A close relative of the person who died is in work or not on a qualifying benefit | Ask DWP to look at the decision again, setting out who actually took responsibility for the funeral. If you still disagree, you can appeal to the tribunal — welfare rights services can help you prepare |
| You are not getting a qualifying benefit | If you had applied but were waiting for a decision, you may still be eligible — check with DWP |
| The claim was made more than 6 months after the funeral | Ask DWP for the decision reasons and get welfare rights advice quickly, but late claims are difficult because GOV.UK says you must apply within 6 months of the funeral |
| Estate funds reduce the payment to nil | Check the calculation against the estate money and other funds that were actually available for the funeral, and ask DWP to explain any amount you think is wrong |
If you want help with an appeal, Citizens Advice and local welfare rights services can provide free support. The Down to Earth service (run by Quakers Social Action) also provides specialist advice on funeral poverty and FEP appeals.
Common questions
What if the person had savings or a life insurance policy?
DWP looks at other money available for the funeral, including money from insurance and the person's estate. A Funeral Expenses Payment may also have to be repaid from estate money that becomes available later. Tell DWP what is available and ask how it affects the calculation.
Can I claim if the person lived abroad?
The person's address alone does not settle eligibility. The funeral must usually take place in the UK, with separate rules for funerals in the EEA or Switzerland. Ask the Bereavement Service to check your circumstances.
I live in Northern Ireland — is this the same?
Northern Ireland has its own Funeral Expenses Payment scheme, administered by the Department for Communities. The rules are similar but not identical. Apply through nidirect.gov.uk.
What if I cannot afford the funeral while waiting for the payment?
Speak to the funeral director early and ask about payment terms. You can claim before the funeral if you have an invoice or signed contract, and you can ask the person's bank whether it will pay the funeral provider directly from their account.
When must I claim Funeral Expenses Payment?
Claim within 6 months of the funeral. Submit the claim within that period even if you are still waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit.
Legal disclaimer: This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and procedures can change, and individual circumstances vary. If you need advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified solicitor or legal professional.
What to read next
Bereavement Support Payment
If you were the partner of the person who died, you may also be entitled to Bereavement Support Payment — a separate benefit with a critical 3-month deadline.
Paying for a Funeral Before Probate
Who can pay from the person's account, how banks release money for funeral costs, and what the estate reimburses later.
Government Benefits After Bereavement
A wider checklist of DWP, council, and tax support that may change after a death, including benefits to check alongside funeral help.
How to Notify Banks of a Death
Asking the deceased's bank to release funds for funeral costs is often the quickest way to cover costs while waiting for FEP or probate.
Using Tell Us Once
Notify multiple government departments — including DWP — about the death in a single step using the government's Tell Us Once service.
What to Do When Someone Dies
A step-by-step guide to the first tasks after a death, from registering the death to the immediate financial steps.
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