What is the Funeral Support Payment?

The Funeral Support Payment provides help for people in Scotland to meet the costs of a funeral if they are on a low income. It replaced Funeral Expenses Payment (England or Wales) and Funeral Payment (Northern Ireland) from 16 September 2019.

It can help to pay towards the following:

• burial or cremation costs
• funeral costs
• your travel costs
• transport costs to move the person who died
• document costs
• medical costs

The payment will not usually cover all of the funeral costs and the amount you get paid will depend on how much money was left by the person who died. An average total payment is around £1,500.

Can I get a Funeral Support Payment?

You or your partner need to be responsible for the funeral - this is usually a partner, child, parent or sibling who is the nearest relation to the person who died. You must also be getting one or more of the following benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Universal Credit (UC)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit (disability or severe disability element)
• Housing Benefit
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), not contribution-based JSA
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), not contribution-based ESA

How do I claim?

You can apply for a Funeral Support Payment from Social Security Scotland over the phone on 0800 182 2222 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, by post or online (face to face services are also planned).

You will need your National Insurance number, details of the funeral director, any receipts and bills you have so far plus your bank account details, if you want Social Security Scotland to pay you and not your funeral director. If the person who died was over 18 you will also need details of their estate, as any money they left should be used to cover the funeral expenses.

You can claim within 6 months of the funeral - even if you are waiting on a decision for a qualifying benefit.