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Arranging a funeral and paying for it

You can arrange a funeral through a funeral director or yourself. If money is tight, there is government help in every part of the UK, but the rules and the deadline are strict.

Last updated 2 November 2026

When can the funeral happen?

GOV.UK says the funeral is usually arranged only after the death has been registered, unless the death was reported to a coroner. If a coroner is involved, the body is released once the examinations are finished. See first steps.

First, check for existing arrangements

• Look for a will, funeral wishes or a letter of instruction.
• Check for a prepaid funeral plan or life insurance. Local funeral directors can help you find one.
• Ask whether the person belonged to a trade union, society or employer scheme that pays towards funeral costs.

Choosing a funeral director

GOV.UK suggests members of the National Association of Funeral Directors, SAIF or Funeral Experts, who follow codes of practice and provide price lists. Funeral directors must publish a price list. Ask for the full cost in writing before you agree, including third-party costs such as the minister or celebrant, crematorium or cemetery fees, and notices.

You do not have to use a funeral director. GOV.UK says you can arrange a funeral yourself, although cremation forms vary by the place of death and you should contact the council or crematorium for help. Some councils run their own services, including non-religious burials.

Paying for the funeral

GOV.UK lists these ways to pay: a prepaid plan or insurance; family or friends; the estate (which usually needs a grant of representation, often called probate); a Funeral Expenses Payment if you struggle to pay; and, in England, the Children's Funeral Fund for children under 18 or babies stillborn after 24 weeks. See probate and confirmation for why banks sometimes will not release money for a funeral without it.

Funeral Expenses Payment (England and Wales)

You can get it if all of these apply, according to GOV.UK:

• you or your partner receive Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit (a Support for Mortgage Interest loan may also qualify)
• you meet the relationship rules with the person who died, such as being their partner, or the parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks, or the parent or person responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 in approved education or training)
• you are arranging a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area or Switzerland

If the person had no partner, or the partner cannot claim, a close relative or friend may be able to claim. A close relative who is working or not on a qualifying benefit can rule you out. You can apply while waiting for a decision on a benefit claim.

What it covers

It covers burial plot fees, cremation fees (including the doctor's certificate), travel to arrange or attend the funeral, moving the body within the UK if over 50 miles, and death certificates. It also gives up to £1,000 towards other costs such as funeral director fees, flowers or the coffin. It usually will not cover the full cost, and the amount depends on other money available, such as insurance or the estate. Any payment is deducted from money you get from the estate.

How to claim

Apply within 6 months of the funeral. You can claim before the funeral if you have an invoice or signed contract (an estimate is not enough). Phone the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or post the SF200 claim form.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

In Scotland, Funeral Support Payment replaced the Funeral Expenses Payment. Social Security Scotland says you must live in Scotland, and one of you must get a qualifying benefit, and you must apply within six months of the funeral. Check the amounts on their website, because we did not confirm them. In Northern Ireland, nidirect says the payment is capped at up to £1,000 for items such as funeral director fees, flowers and coffins, plus burial or cremation fees and some other costs, and you must apply within six months of the funeral.

If you cannot afford a funeral

Cruse says that if you cannot pay, the council where the person died may arrange a simple funeral, and some hospitals also arrange funerals. A simple or direct cremation with a memorial later is a lower-cost option. Charities such as Down to Earth give practical help with funeral costs.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and they change. Check the official pages linked at the bottom of each page, and ask a solicitor or Citizens Advice about your own situation. Last checked November 2026.

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