What Help Might Be Available To Me?
Funeral Expenses Payment
If you receive certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment from the Department for Work & Pensions (D.W.P).
For further information, or to see if you may be eligible for support, please click the link below:
Get help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
It is important to note that the Funeral Expenses Payment will not cover the entire funeral costs, and any shortfall will need to be funded from elsewhere.
What will you receive?
- Burial fees for a particular plot.
- Cremation fees, including any doctor’s fees.
- Travel expenses to either arrange the funeral, or attend the funeral.
- The cost of moving your loved one within the UK, should this exceed 50 miles.
- Death certificates or other documents.
- Up to £1,000 towards other funeral costs such as the funeral directors fees, flowers, coffin etc.
- If a pre-paid plan is in place, up to £120 may be awarded to cover any items not covered by the plan.
Bereavement Support Payment
You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died in the last 21 months.
You must claim within 3 months of your partner’s death to get the full amount. You can claim up to 21 months after their death but you’ll get fewer monthly payments.
For further information, or to see if you may be eligible for support, please click the link below:
Bereavement Support Payment: Eligibility – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What is probate?
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions (their ‘estate’) when they die.
You should not make any financial plans or put property on the market until you’ve got probate.
Contact the financial organisations the person who died used (for example, their bank and mortgage company) to find out if you’ll need probate to get access to their assets. Every organisation has its own rules.
You may not need probate if the person who died:
– only had savings
– owned shares or money with others – this automatically passes to the surviving owners unless they’ve agreed otherwise
– owned land or property as ‘joint tenants’ with others – this automatically passes to the surviving owners
For further information regarding probate, please follow the link below:
Applying for probate: What is probate – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
