J. Worley (Funeral Directors) Ltd.

Help with funeral costs

The following information should be treated as general guidance only. We are not able to guarantee assistance towards payment of costs from the Social Services.

Who is entitled to help?

You may get help if there is not enough money to pay for the funeral and you are responsible for making the funeral arrangements and are receiving certain benefits, i.e. Tax Credits, Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.

Check what amount of money is available from:

• The estate of the person who has died, such as money from bank or building society account; any insurance policies or charities, lump sum payments made by a pension scheme.

• Any savings you have in a bank, building society, National Savings (including certificates and premium bonds) or in cash at home. The savings may be in your name or the name of your partner.

The social fund sometimes help towards the cost of a simple funeral within the United Kingdom, which may include funeral directors’ professional fees (including hearse only and a simple coffin) up to a maximum of £700, PLUS cremation/burial costs (single grave only) and doctors’ fees (in the case of a cremation). It would not include any fees payable to a minister, church or organist, neither does it include death notices, flowers, limousines or other chargeable services from the funeral director.

The final invoice must be in the name of the customer who is claiming for the payment from the social fund. We would point out that at the time of calling in to arrange the funeral, you will be asked for a payment on account of disbursements plus any shortfall between the amount which the social fund may pay and the actual total costs and will be required to sign our order form accepting full responsibility for payment of our final invoice.

The application form for payments from the social fund is form SF200.

If you do not know whether you qualify for help, please contact your local JobCentre Plus for advice.

JobCentre Plus
Government Buildings
1 Waterhouse Street
Hemel Hempstead
Herts
HP1 1EU
United Kingdom

Telephone: 01442 426000

For more information online you can visit the DWP web site at http://www.dwp.gov.uk where you will find information on Funeral Payments in the Benefits A-Z index. There are a number of useful leaflets and forms that you can download, print and complete online.

This information is correct at time of going to press, however you should consult the up to date information available from the JobCentre Plus offices prior to making any commitment based on this information.