Funeral payments are a social security payment in the United Kingdom that are part of the
Social Fund A social fund (sometimes also called ''Social Investment Fund'', ''Social Fund for Development'', ''Social Action Fund'', ''National Solidarity Fund'' or ''Social Development Agency'') is an institution, typically in a developing country, that prov ...
. 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:
*
Income Support
Income Support is an income-related benefit in the United Kingdom for some people who are on a low income, but have a reason for not actively seeking work. Claimants of Income Support may be entitled to certain other benefits, for example, Housing ...
*Income-related
Employment and Support Allowance
Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any other ...
*Income-based
Jobseeker’s Allowance
*
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is the principal element of the UK welfare system for people of pension age. It is intended to supplement the UK State Pension, or to replace it (for example, if the claimant did not meet the conditions to claim a State Pension). ...
(guarantee or savings credit)
*
Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit is a means-tested social security benefit in the United Kingdom that is intended to help meet housing costs for rented accommodation. It is the second biggest item in the Department for Work and Pensions' budget after the stat ...
*
Working Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit (WTC) is a state benefit in the United Kingdom made to people who work and have a low income. It was introduced in April 2003 and is a means-tested benefit. Despite their name, tax credits are not to be confused with tax cre ...
(disability or severe disability element)
*
Child Tax Credit
A child tax credit (CTC) is a tax credit for parents with dependent children given by various countries. The credit is often linked to the number of dependent children a taxpayer has and sometimes the taxpayer's income level. For example, in t ...
(at a rate higher than £545 per year)
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Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a United Kingdom social security payment. It is means-tested and is replacing and combining six benefits for working-age households with a low income: income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeke ...
England and Wales
In England and Wales, further entitlement conditions must also be met. A claimant can get a Funeral Expenses Payment if:
* they live in England or Wales;
* they were the partner of the person who died;
* they were a close relative or close friend of the person who died ''and'' it is reasonable for them to accept responsibility for the funeral costs, because they were in close regular contact with the person who has died.
A ''close relative'' means
* a parent, father-in-law, mother-in-law or step-parent
* a son, son-in-law, step-son or step-son-in-law
* a daughter, daughter-in-law, step-daughter or step-daughter-in-law
* a brother or brother-in-law
* a sister or sister-in-law
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:
* the person who has died had a partner when they died;
* there is a parent, son or daughter of the person who has died who is not getting a qualifying benefit
and whose relationship with the person who has died had not broken down.
Scotland
In Scotland, Funeral payments has been replaced by
Funeral Support Payment, a new benefit delivered by
Social Security Scotland
Social Security Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ''Tèarainteachd Shòisealta Alba'') is an executive agency of the Scottish Government with responsibility for social security provision.
History
The devolved Scottish Parliament was established in 199 ...
.
References
External links
Gov.uk{{Social Fund in the United Kingdom
Social Fund (UK)
Social security in the United Kingdom