If you are in any doubt as to who is responsible for making funeral arrangements or are struggling to self finance an ‘at need’ funeral please contact our Registration, Nationality and Bereavement Liaison Officer at cemeteries@kingston.gov.uk.
Quaker Social Action, Down to Earth UK funeral costs helpline provides free and confidential advice if you are struggling with the cost of organising a funeral anywhere in the UK. Experienced advisers have supported thousands of people across the UK to plan, reduce costs, identify ways to raise money, and get the right government support. If you are on a low income or benefits and the funeral is yet to happen you can reach them on 020 8983 5055 or email downtoearth@qsa.org.uk.
The first priority for any money left by the deceased person is to help pay towards the cost of their funeral. This comes before any rent, utilities etc. If, after this, there is insufficient money or assets in the estate to pay off any debts, then they would be paid in priority order until the money or assets run out. Any remaining debts are likely to be written off.
In order to release money from a bank account, you can take a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the funeral bill to the bank. Many banks will release the money directly to the funeral director (if you are using one). You don’t need to wait for probate or the will (if there is one) to be read.
Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment (England or Wales)
Funeral benefits cover about 44% of the average cost of a funeral in the UK. To apply you must be responsible for the funeral costs and in receipt of qualifying benefits. If your financial circumstances were connected to the person who has died, your benefits may have been affected and you may need to make a new application first. If you haven’t already, you could call the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012.
If you are not currently in receipt of benefits, you may now be eligible – you can check by completing a benefits calculation online.
Bereavement Support Payment
If you are under state pension age and your wife or husband or civil partner has died, you may also be eligible for the Bereavement Support Payment.
Please note: Eligibility for funeral payments is dependent on your benefits, not those of the person who has died. Funeral and bereavement payments are grants and do not need to be paid back. You can apply in writing or over the phone, and you may be able to apply online for the Bereavement Support Payment.
Grants related to work or professions can help with unpaid funeral bills. Most require that you or the deceased worked in a particular trade or industry for a minimum period of time, but some have no length of service criteria.
You can look at charities related to your own work history and to the past employment of the deceased. It may also be possible for your partner or other close family members of the deceased who are helping with the funeral bill to make applications based on their work history.
It doesn’t have to be a current job, it depends on the charity, but many will consider applications from people who worked in their industry, e.g. hospitality, a long time ago
Don’t worry if the company no longer exists, this doesn’t matter, but it is likely you will have to provide evidence of having worked in the sector e.g. retail.
Most grant making charities require evidence that you have explored any government funding that you are entitled to, before considering an application.
Charities will often only consider paying an outstanding funeral bill. They usually pay the funeral director directly. Many won't pay you or a family member or friend, but may in some cases. It is worth checking before applying.
Online donations from family, friends and even strangers who just want to help can reduce funeral debt. All the time, people are moved to support others who need a little help. Crowdfunding is used to raise money for all kinds of reasons, including funeral costs. It involves creating an online page where people can donate to a particular cause. Crowdfunding sites include:
When choosing, check if the website will still pay you the donations even if you don't reach your target. Check if the website charges any fees or takes a percentage of the donations. State the amount you still need to raise. Write something explaining the difficulties you are facing and something about the person who has died. Tell people about the page – use social media.
Funeral directors often need part payment to cover third party costs, called disbursements, before the funeral can go ahead. Some require full payment, while others are more flexible, particularly if you are waiting for a government funeral payment. If you need to pay a deposit and have no other options you may want to look at affordable loans and credit. However, if you do not have the funds you can approach the local council where the person died and ask for a public health funeral. If the funeral is arranged and there is money outstanding on the bill, you may be able to enter into a monthly payment plan with the funeral director.
If you have no source of funds, or if you do not want to take responsibility for the funeral for other reasons, the council where the person died can provide a simple, respectful funeral called a Public Health funeral. If someone died in hospital, speak to the bereavement office there first. Sometimes they will carry out a hospital funeral, but they have no obligation to do so and they might refer you to the council.
Councils are obliged to bury or cremate someone who has died in their area ‘where it appears to the authority that no suitable arrangements for the disposal of the body have been or are being made’, regardless of whether there is any family. If you are told you are legally responsible for the funeral, this is not true.
Councils have limited budgets for public health funerals so they are likely to check that there is nobody who can pay and ask if you have tried other sources, such as the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment / Funeral Support Payment, first.