Financial assistance

Click here for a printer-friendly page

Financial assistance towards the cost of a funeral that you are arranging might be available, depending upon your circumstances. The following is a guide to eligibility.

THE TEST FOR ELIGIBILITY
The eligibility test for Social Fund assistance toward funeral expenses is not determined by the deceased’s receipt of state benefit, but whether or not the person responsible for the cost of the funeral is in receipt of benefit.

Eligibility For benefit

A contribution toward the cost of any funeral that you are arranging and paying for might be available if you, or your spouse or partner, receive one or more of the following benefits:

  • Income Support;
  • Council Tax Benefit;
  • Housing Benefit;
  • Working Family Tax Credit Allowance;
  • Disability Working Allowance;
  • Job Seeker’s Allowance.

In most cases it is unlikely that the amount paid by the social fund will cover the total cost of the funeral, and you should check with the Department of Social Security (DSS) to confirm which benefits currently apply.

 

Should monies be required so that you are able to meet the funeral cost, Welham Jones will issue a pro-forma invoice that can be taken to the local DSS office along with the documents listed below.

Making a claim

When registering the death, the Registrar will, if asked, provide you with a white Certificate of Registration of Death (Form BD8) which is required to claim any Social Fund benefit. Form BD8 must be taken to your local DSS office together with the following documents (if they are to hand or can easily be obtained):

  • the deceased's Birth Certificate;
  • Social Fund Claim Form (SF 200);
  • Marriage, or Civil Partnership Certificate (if applicable);
  • National Insurance Contribution card;
  • any DSS Pension or Allowance books;
  • Welham Jones’ invoice or estimate of funeral costs.

Claims should be made within the three months following death. It is advisable to lodge the claim as soon as possible, even if all of the required documents are not immediately available. Any payment from the fund will normally be made within ten days.

Remember, Social Fund payments are not part of the deceased’s estate and therefore not liable for estate duty. Payments made can be recovered by the DSS when, and if, funds do become available from the deceased’s estate.

Ineligible for assistance
Where the deceased had no money or assets, and there are no relatives or friends willing or able to accept financial responsibility for the cost of a funeral, by statute a very basic cremation must be provided either by the local NHS Trust if the death occurred in hospital, otherwise by the Local Authority where the deceased died.

OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING
Subject to the Office of Fair Trading recommendations, details and prices are available, upon request, of a funeral offering the following:

  • removal of the deceased to our premises (within a 10 mile radius between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays);
  • care of the deceased;
  • our services;
  • attending to the necessary funeral arrangements;
  • a coffin suitable for cremation or burial, as appropriate;
  • provision of a suitably equipped vehicle (together with staff) to the nearest crematorium or cemetery.

Disbursements and fees are extra. In providing this funeral we need your co-operation to minimise our overheads. As we will not invoice you, we respectfully request that you pay all moneys when ordering this service.

Back to top of page

 
An Independent Family Owned Company© Welham Jones Ltd 2006
 
xxxxxxxxxx