Who is Entitled to Help with a Funeral?

Disbursements are essentially fees that we pay out on behalf of the family such as Doctor's Fees where appropriate, Crematorium/Cemetery Fees and Parochial Fees etc. Our written estimate will detail the approximate cost of any disbursements. However, you will appreciate that we will have no direct control over these charges, and they could therefore be subject to slight variations. These costs can then be settled by one single payment, rather than by many different bills to be settled by the estate.

You may receive help if there is not enough money to pay for the funeral and you are responsible for making the funeral arrangements and you or your partner are receiving any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Family Credit
• 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 accounts. Any insurance policies or charities, lump sum payments made by a pension scheme or relatives, (either yours or those of the person who has died) Any savings you have in a bank or 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 Widows Payment of does not count as savings. The social fund may make a contribution towards the cost of a simple funeral within the United Kingdom. This includes:

• Bringing the body home if the person died away from home
• but within the United Kingdom
• The Death Certificate
• A standard coffin
• The Hearse for the coffin and bearers
• Flowers from the person who is arranging the funeral
• Contribution towards fees of funeral director, Chaplain and
• organist fee for simple funeral
• Cemetery fee or Crematorium fee
• Doctors fees