Financial Assistance
Help Financing the Funeral
Finding the money to pay for a funeral if you are on a low income or have high financial commitments can be extremely stressful. Particularly if your loved one’s death was unexpected or they didn’t make any provision for their funeral costs.
The good news is, you might be eligible for financial assistance through government schemes including the Funeral Expenses Payment, Child Funeral Support, and the Bereavement Support Payment.
Eligibility will vary and may depend on your circumstances, including any benefits you may be receiving, any other money that’s available to cover funeral costs, such as an insurance policy or the deceased person’s estate.
The Funeral Expenses Payment
You may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment (also called a Funeral Payment) which can help to pay for:
* Burial fees for a particular plot or cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor’s certificate.
* Travel to the funeral or funeral transport, including the cost of moving your loved one within the UK (if being moved more than 50 miles)
* Death certificates or other documents and your funeral directors’ professional fees
* The coffin/casket and funeral flowers.
For more information about how to check your eligibility and make a claim follow the below link.
Child Funeral Support
We know that dealing with the loss of a child is unthinkable. And dealing with financial practicalities during this emotional time is incredibly difficult. That’s why the Welsh Government agreed to end burial and cremation fees for children under 18.
Families in Wales that have registered the loss of a child will also be entitled to receive a £500 contribution to the funeral and other related costs which could be used to cover:
* A coffin, casket, or other covering.
* Funeral provider costs.
* Memorials, plaques, and headstones.
Bereavement Support Payment
If you’ve lost your husband, wife, or civil partner in the last 21 months, you may be eligible for the Bereavement Support Payment scheme.
With this scheme, you’ll get:
A first ‘lump sum’ payment up to £3,500. Then up to 18 monthly instalments up to £350.
There are two rates available and to access the full amount, you must claim within three months of your partner’s passing.
If you’re not eligible for Financial Assistance…
All is not lost. Coles has developed partnerships with a number of trusted and reputable finance providers that can help you to pay for the perfect send-off for your loved one. Depending on your individual circumstances, the following options could be helpful to you…
Funeral Safe
If there’s no estate and no provision made – paying for the funeral falls to the deceased family. To ease this financial burden, Funeral Safe is a specialist funeral loan provider, offering high street bank interest rates, no repayment penalties – and giving you complete control of your borrowing.
Curtis Legal
If your loved one has left an estate and you contract Curtis Legal to manage the probate process for you – Curtis Legal will pay all funeral costs in full, pending probate. Their fixed professional fee, along with the funeral costs will then be deducted from the balance of the estate when it has been settled.
Find out more >