Social Security Scotland Funeral Support Payment

Funeral Support Payment helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland.

It usually will not cover the full cost of the funeral but it should help pay for some costs. It can be paid either to you or the funeral director who's helping you plan the funeral.

Only one person can get Funeral Support Payment for the funeral.

You will not be eligible if you've already had other government support for the funeral, this includes:

  • Funeral Expenses Payment (England or Wales)

  • Funeral Payment (Northern Ireland)

Definition of a funeral for Funeral Support Payment

A funeral is the burial or cremation of the person who died. It does not include:

  • a memorial service or remembrance event, if it’s separate from the burial or cremation

  • burying someone’s ashes after they’ve been cremated

You may be eligible for Funeral Support Payment if all of the following apply:

  • you live in Scotland

  • you or your partner are getting certain benefits or tax credits

  • the person who died lived in the UK

  • the funeral is being held in the UK or in some circumstances in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland

  • you are applying after the person has died, until 6 months after the date of their funeral

  • you or your partner are responsible for the funeral

  • it is reasonable for you or your partner to accept responsibility for the funeral costs

You may be eligible for Funeral Support Payment if you or your partner are in receipt of one or more of the following:

  • Child Tax Credit

  • Universal Credit (UC)

  • Income Support

  • Pension Credit

  • Working Tax Credit (disability or severe disability element)

  • Housing Benefit

  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), not contribution-based JSA

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), not contribution-based ESA

If you or your partner are waiting to hear about your application for one of these benefits, you can still apply for Funeral Support Payment. However, we'll only be able to let you know if you're able to get Funeral Support Payment once we know the outcome of your other benefit applications.

For more information, please click on the link below:

https://www.mygov.scot/funeral-support-payment 

 

Need more information?

We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can be contacted on 01779 478109