Funeral Support Payment

Overview

Funeral Support Payment is a Scottish benefit administered by Social Security Scotland that helps with the cost of arranging a funeral, including for a stillborn baby from 24 weeks of pregnancy. It is made up of two parts: the actual burial or cremation fees (paid in full), and a flat-rate amount towards other funeral costs such as the funeral director's fee, flowers, and transport. The flat-rate element is uprated each year in line with inflation. To qualify, the applicant must be responsible for the funeral and must be the nearest relative of the deceased (or a close friend, where there is no nearer relative), and the applicant or their partner must be receiving a qualifying benefit at the time of the claim — typically Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, or the disability element of Working Tax Credit. The person who died must normally have been a UK resident, and the funeral must take place in the UK, EEA, Switzerland, or Gibraltar. Claims must be made within six months of the funeral. Funeral Support Payment cannot be claimed alongside the equivalent DWP Funeral Expenses Payment (England and Wales) or Funeral Payment (Northern Ireland). Individual eligibility and amount are determined by Social Security Scotland. This page references figures and criteria from the primary mygov.scot source; the authoritative source for any individual award remains Social Security Scotland.

Applies in Scotland. Administered by Social Security Scotland. This page is general information; contact Social Security Scotland for your individual circumstances.

Rates

Eligibility criteria include

• HOUSEHOLD
  Claimant or their partner must be responsible for the funeral and must be the nearest relative of the deceased, or have been a close friend if there is no nearer relative. ^{[Scottish Government]}
• OTHER
  Claimant or their partner must be receiving a qualifying benefit at the time of claim: Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (disability element), or a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. ^{[Scottish Government]}
• RESIDENCE
  The person who died must usually have been resident in the UK and the claimant must live in Scotland. ^{[Scottish Government]}
• OTHER
  The funeral must normally take place in the UK, EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar. ^{[Scottish Government]}
• OTHER
  Claim must be made within 6 months of the funeral. ^{[Scottish Government]}
• OTHER
  Funeral Support Payment cannot be claimed if the equivalent Funeral Expenses Payment (E/W) or Funeral Payment (NI) has already been awarded for the same funeral. ^{[Scottish Government]}

Sources