Funeral Costs (gov.uk get help with funeral cost)

Freepost

I am posting to see if anybody can offer some advice, perhaps having already been through this process!

My daughter died 3 Dec'25, it wasn't unexpected. She was 51 and had been in care for about 5 years. Her partner had run off, perhaps 10 or more years ago. She had no possessions or property. At the time of her death she had approx £3700.00 in the bank.

I arranged a rather modest funeral for her, the cost was £4,650.00. To cover this cost, I arranged for the bank to pay the funeral director from my daughters bank account directly and I paid the balance. I was under the impression that since I am in receipt of benefits, that I could claim/recover the money that I paid £950 but the DWP have refused my claim, stating that there was sufficient money in the bank account to cover the cheapest cremation (direct cremation, no attendance or service/Celebrant, nothing) and the transportation by the funeral director (a white van).

From the DWP web site:

What you’ll get

Funeral Expenses Payment can help pay for some of the costs of the following:

• burial fees for a particular plot
• cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor’s certificate
• travel to arrange or go to the funeral
• the cost of moving the body within the UK, if it’s being moved more than 50 miles
• death certificates or other documents

You can also get up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers or the coffin.

The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The DWP have said that the cheapest cost of cremation in my area is £945.00 and that they could only pay up to £1000.00 for funeral costs, director’s fees, flowers, coffin and since the bank account had more than £1945.00, then they can not offer any assistance.Where as £950.00 could be considered not a lot of money to loose, it is when you are on a very tight budget.I would be grateful for your thoughts.Thank you.F

TELLIT01

Sorry for the situation you are in but what you are being told by DWP is correct.

Freepost

Of course …. not what I wanted to hear but thank you for answering.

What gets me is that the DWP say that the "(benefit) payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral". I wasn't even asking them for the whole £1945 just the balance!

Once again, thank for taking the time to respond.

F.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6652579/funeral-costs-gov-uk-get-help-with-funeral-cost

As far as I know there is nothing about having to go for the cheapest method for a funeral. The money is to go towards the costs.

If you look at the help it covers "burial fees" clearly that shows it not only an unattended funeral "travel to the funeral" again clearly shows it's not just an

unattended funeral.

HillStreetBlues

Any money from the estate can be used to to calculate a Feneral expense payment.
What you need to do is request a breakdown on how they came up with the refusal.

bazdvd

https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments#:~:text=How%20much%20you%20get%20depends%20on%20your%20circumstances.%20This%20includes%20any%20other%20money%20that%E2%80%99s%20available%20to%20cover%20the%20costs%2C%20for%20example%20from%20an%20insurance%20policy%20or%20the%20deceased%20person%E2%80%99s%20estate.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81858551#Comment_81858551

That's the same website the OP quoted from.

Brie

Can't help but just wanted to add my sympathy for the situation you are in.

bazdvd

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81858588#Comment_81858588

yes but the highlighted text is important that they missed off their post.

"

How much you get depends on your circumstances. This includes any other money that’s available to cover the costs, for example from an insurance policy or the deceased person’s estate.

"

sheramber

If you receive money from the deceased’s estate

Your Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from any money you get from the deceased’s estate.

The estate includes any money or property they had but not a house or personal things left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner.

https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81858936#Comment_81858936

The issue isn't about the deduction, the OP only is looking for the balance, knowing the DWP will deduct the Estate money from cost of funeral.

This is about the DWP stating it had to be the cheapest possible funeral which is clearly wrong, as it it was it would be clear in the link. Also there are items on the website that contradicts that statement EG cost towards flowers.