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In Scotland, Funeral payments has been replaced by Funeral Support Payment, a new benefit delivered by Social Security Scotland.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]
In the United States, several limited federal programs exist to assist with funeral expenses. The Social Security Administration provides a one-time death benefit payment of $255 to eligible surviving spouses or dependent children of qualified workers. [3] The Department of Veterans Affairs offers burial benefits for eligible veterans, including burial in national cemeteries, headstones, markers, and burial allowances ranging from approximately $300 to $2,000 depending on whether the death was service-related. [4] [5]
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides assistance for disaster-related deaths and implemented a COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program that reimburses up to $9,000 for COVID-related funeral expenses for deaths occurring after January 20, 2020. [6]
Beyond government assistance, private financing options have emerged to help families manage funeral costs, including specialized funeral financing services like Lilypay, which offers flexible buy now, pay later payment plans specifically for funeral expenses. These services provide alternatives to traditional loans or credit cards for families facing immediate funeral costs.