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Bereavement · UK guide

Can’t afford a funeral? You have options.

Last verified 21 Jun 2026 · Source GOV.UK + MoneyHelper + Citizens Advice

Losing someone is hard enough without worrying about money. If you can’t afford a funeral, there is real help: a DWP payment if you’re on certain benefits, a free fund for children’s funerals, a low-cost direct cremation, council hardship funds and charities — and if no one can pay, the council must arrange a public health funeral. Here’s what each covers.

+£1,000FEP other costs
£0Children’s Funeral Fund
6 monthsTo claim the FEP
Council dutyPublic health funeral
See all the options → Funeral Expenses Payment

1. The DWP Funeral Expenses Payment

If you or your partner receives a qualifying benefit (such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA/ESA or Housing Benefit) and you’re responsible for the funeral, you may get a Funeral Expenses Payment. It covers burial or cremation fees and certain other costs, plus up to £1,000 for things like the coffin, funeral director’s fees and flowers.

  • Claim within 6 months of the funeral (you can claim before, once you have a funeral director’s estimate or invoice).
  • It’s usually recovered from the estate if there’s money or property to recover it from.
  • In Scotland it’s the Funeral Support Payment via Social Security Scotland.

Full details and how to claim are in our Funeral Expenses Payment guide.

2. Other ways to keep the cost down or get help

OptionWhat it is
Direct cremationA simple cremation with no service at the crematorium — the cheapest option, far below a traditional funeral. You can hold your own memorial later, your way, at no extra cost.
Children’s Funeral Fund (England)Covers burial/cremation fees and a coffin for a child under 18 or a baby stillborn after 24 weeks. Not means-tested — available whatever your income. Scotland, Wales & NI have equivalents.
Council hardship / welfare fundsSome councils have funds that can help with funeral costs after a bereavement — ask your local council.
Charities & the funeral directorBereavement charities and some funeral directors offer low-cost or simple funeral packages — ask for the “simple funeral” price and compare.
Money the person leftBanks will often release money from the deceased’s account to pay a funeral bill directly, even before probate. A pre-paid funeral plan or life insurance may also cover it.
You don’t have to take on debt for a funeral

Funeral directors’ prices vary a lot — always ask for the simple/direct cremation price and compare two or three. You’re not obliged to pay for cars, notices or extras you can’t afford. A meaningful goodbye doesn’t have to be expensive.

3. If no one can pay — a public health funeral

If there’s no one able or willing to arrange and pay for the funeral, the local council has a legal duty to arrange one — a public health funeral — under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.

  • It’s usually a cremation with a short service; mourners can attend, but the council sets the date and time.
  • Extras like flowers, cars or newspaper notices aren’t included.
  • The council recovers its costs from the person’s estate where there is one.

If you’re facing this, contact the council’s bereavement or environmental health team and explain the situation — they will guide you. It is not a failure to ask: it’s exactly what the duty exists for.

Do this now
  1. Check the Funeral Expenses Payment if you’re on a qualifying benefit — claim within 6 months.
  2. Ask the funeral director for the direct-cremation / simple-funeral price and compare a couple.
  3. If no one can pay, contact the council about a public health funeral; for a child, ask about the Children’s Funeral Fund.

Free help & support: MoneyHelper · Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 · DWP Bereavement Service 0800 151 2012 · Cruse Bereavement Support 0808 808 1677 · GOV.UK — Funeral Expenses Payment. This is general information, not legal advice.

Source verification Primary sources: GOV.UK (Funeral Expenses Payment; Public Health Funerals good-practice guidance; Children’s Funeral Fund), MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice. Last verified 21 June 2026. Confidence: High — the Funeral Expenses Payment covers fees plus up to £1,000 of other costs for those on qualifying benefits (claim within 6 months; Scotland uses the Funeral Support Payment); a direct cremation is the lowest-cost option; the Children’s Funeral Fund for England covers a child’s funeral fees and a coffin and is not means-tested; and councils have a statutory duty to arrange a public health funeral under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 where no one else will, recovering costs from the estate. SortedUK is independent — not a government service or a funeral provider, and this is general information. With care for anyone going through a loss.

Help with funeral costs — common questions

Can I get money from the bank to pay the funeral before probate?

Often yes. Banks will usually release funds from the deceased’s account to pay a funeral director’s invoice directly, even before probate. Ask the bank — take the death certificate and the invoice.

Will a public health funeral let us attend?

Yes — family and friends can attend, and there’s normally a short service, but the council sets the date and time and extras aren’t included. You can still hold your own memorial separately.

Is the Children's Funeral Fund means-tested?

No. For a child under 18 or a baby stillborn after 24 weeks, the fund covers burial/cremation fees and a coffin regardless of your income. Ask the funeral director or the council to arrange it.

I'm struggling financially after the death — what else can I claim?

Check Bereavement Support Payment, your own benefits as your circumstances change, and council/charity hardship help. See our bereavement support and register-a-death guides, and run a benefits check.

A dignified goodbye, without the debt.

Check what you can claim, ask for the simple-funeral price, and lean on the council’s duty if no one can pay. Want help working out your options?

Ask Sorted to help → Funeral Expenses Payment
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