For people who are concerned about their financial position as a result of the death of their husband, wife or civil partner, or family members who are worried about not being able to afford a funeral for their loved one, there is help available from the government.
Benefits payments
Bereavement Support Payments
Bereavement Support Payments are payable to people after their husband, wife or civil partner dies as long as they are under State Pension age and their partner had paid National Insurance contributions for 25 weeks or died due to an accident at work. Click here for more information on what you are entitled to and how you can claim.
Funeral Expenses Payment
Help is also available for those who cannot afford to pay for a funeral. The Funeral Expenses Payment is normally payable if all the close members of the family are in receipt of one of the benefits listed below. If one member is not, then the DSS will assume that person has sufficient funds and the claim will be refused. Furthermore, the deceased person must have left no funds or assets which could be used to pay, or part pay, for the funeral.
- Income support
- Family Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Community Charge Benefit
Should this be the case, then we would strongly recommend that you either make an approach to your local DSS office before making the funeral arrangements or talk to your Funeral Director
When you register the death of your relative, the Registrar will provide you with a White Certificate of Death which is required to claim any of these benefits. We carry the Social Security forms for most claims and can advise you on the procedure for making a claim.
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