Skip to content
£ moneyguide Search

Independent information, not financial advice. Partner offers are labelled Ad. How we make money

How-to · Step-by-step

How to claim Funeral Expenses Payment

Where a link is marked * or labelled Ad, it is a partner advertisement: we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * or Ad label earn us nothing. How we make money.

In short. If you get a qualifying benefit and you are arranging the funeral, claim within six months by calling 0800 151 2012 or posting form SF200. Scotland claims Funeral Support Payment instead.

The grant does not usually cover the whole funeral. This is not a DWP form you submit through Money Guide.

Last reviewed:

·Estimated time: 1 hour·Cost: £0 to claim

What you'll need

  • The death certificate and funeral invoice or signed contract
  • Your National Insurance number and qualifying-benefit details
  • The deceased’s National Insurance number if you have it
  • Details of any prepaid funeral plan or insurance

The steps

  1. 01

    Check you are in the right nation

    England and Wales: Funeral Expenses Payment. Scotland: Funeral Support Payment from Social Security Scotland. Northern Ireland: nidirect Funeral Payment.

    Official link →

  2. 02

    Check qualifying benefit and relationship

    You or your partner need Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or income-related ESA (or a pending claim), and you must meet the relationship rules. Official: www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/eligibility

    Official link →

  3. 03

    Claim within six months

    Call 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm) or post SF200. You can claim before the funeral with an invoice or signed contract, not an estimate. Universal Credit claims wait until after the next payment for a decision.

    Official link →

  4. 04

    Tell government about the death

    Use Tell Us Once so DWP, HMRC and others stop payments that should stop. Guide: Tell Us Once. Hub: Funeral Expenses Payment.

Common pitfalls

  • Waiting more than six months after the funeral
  • Assuming New Style (contribution-based) ESA is a qualifying benefit — check the live GOV.UK list
  • Expecting the grant to match the funeral director’s full invoice

FAQ

Who is the money paid to?
To you if you have already paid, or to the funeral director if you have not.
← All how-to guides