Funeral payments are a social security payment in the United Kingdom that are part of the Social Fund. They are to help with the costs of a funeral. To be eligible for a funeral payment, a claimant or their partner must be in receipt of one of the following income related benefits:
In England and Wales, further entitlement conditions must also be met. A claimant can get a Funeral Expenses Payment if:
A close relative means
If there is another close relative of the person who has died who is not getting a qualifying benefit, their situation may need to be considered.
A claimant cannot get a payment as a close relative or close friend of the person who has died if:
and whose relationship with the person who has died had not broken down.
In Scotland, Funeral payments has been replaced by Funeral Support Payment, a new benefit delivered by Social Security Scotland.[2]