Benefit Sums

Funeral Expenses Payment calculator

If you are on a low income and arranging a funeral in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the DWP may help with the cost. Check whether you can claim and get a rough idea of how much.

  • 2026/27 rates
  • Checked 25 October 2026
  • Sources linked below

The funeral director’s estimate or invoice will help. You can use rough figures if you do not have one yet.

Where will the funeral be arranged from?
Do you or your partner get a qualifying benefit? Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA, income-based JSA or Income Support
Are you responsible for the funeral? You were their partner, the parent of a child who died, or a close relative or friend paying for it
Including the doctor’s certificate fees for a cremation and the cost of a new grave if needed
One return journey to arrange or attend the funeral, and moving the body over 50 miles
Funeral director, coffin, flowers, cars
Was there a prepaid funeral plan?
Money in their bank account, a life insurance payout, or contributions from charities or employers

Your estimate

2026/27 rates

Fill in the form to see your estimate.

An estimate only. The organisation that pays the benefit makes the decision.

What the payment covers

The Funeral Expenses Payment pays the necessary costs of a simple funeral in full: burial or cremation fees, some travel, and documents needed to release the estate. On top of that it pays up to £1,000 towards everything else. Most funerals cost more than this, so families often still pay part of the bill.

How this is calculated

Payment = burial or cremation fees + travel + other costs (up to £1,000) − money from the estate, insurance and other sources

If a prepaid funeral plan covers some of the costs, the cap for other costs drops to £120 and the plan’s costs are not paid again.

Worked example

Dev is on Universal Credit and arranging his father’s cremation. The cremation fees are £1,050 and the funeral director charges £3,200 for everything else. Dev’s father had £400 in his bank account. The payment would be £1,050 + £1,000 − £400 = £1,650. Dev would need to find the rest of the funeral director’s bill.

Common questions

How much is the Funeral Expenses Payment?

There is no fixed amount. It covers the necessary burial or cremation fees in full, some travel, and up to £1,000 towards other costs such as the funeral director, coffin, flowers and cars. Money from the estate or a funeral plan is taken off.

Who can get help with funeral costs?

You must be responsible for the funeral and get a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA, income-based JSA or Income Support. You also need to be the partner of the person who died, their parent (for a child), or a close relative or friend where it is reasonable for you to pay.

How long do I have to claim?

Up to 6 months after the funeral. You can claim before the funeral if you have a funeral director’s estimate or invoice.

Do I have to pay it back?

Usually not. But if the person who died left money or property, the DWP can recover the payment from their estate. A home that a surviving partner lives in, and personal possessions left to relatives, are not used.

What if I live in Scotland?

Apply for Funeral Support Payment from Social Security Scotland instead. It works in a similar way.

Sources

  1. Funeral Expenses Payment (GOV.UK)
  2. How much Funeral Expenses Payment will I get? (Turn2us)
  3. Funeral Support Payment (mygov.scot)

Written by the Benefit Sums editorial team. Review: independent review by a qualified welfare rights adviser is being arranged. Until then, every figure on this page links to its official source above.

Last checked 25 October 2026. Read how we calculate and our disclaimer. Spotted a mistake? Report a problem with this page.