HELP WITH FUNERAL COSTS
Paying for a funeral can be expensive but there are a number of options available to assist with funeral costs, from financial help to claiming funeral costs from the deceased person's estate.
BLUE LIGHT CARD DISCOUNT
To show our appreciation for the dedication and sacrifices made by our NHS and emergency service workers, Rushton Family Funerals offer a 5% discount on our professional fees to all Blue Light Card holders.
To claim the discount, just show your valid Blue Light Card at the time of arrangement.
The discount is applicable to the funeral package fees only and not any disbursements or third-party fees.
GOVERNMENT HELP WITH FUNERAL COSTS
You could get a Funeral Expenses payment from the government if you claim certain benefits and need help with some of the funeral costs.
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You (or your partner) must get one or more of the following:
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Income Support
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Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
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Pension Credit
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Housing Benefit
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The disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit
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Child Tax Credit
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Universal Credit
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The person claiming one of these benefits must be the partner or a very close relative of the person who has died. You may not get help if another close relative of the deceased (such as a sibling or parent) is in work and can help with the cost of the funeral.
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Funeral Expenses Payment can help pay for some of the costs of the following:
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Burial fees for a particular plot
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Cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor’s certificate
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Travel to arrange or go to the funeral
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The cost of moving the deceased within the UK, if it’s being moved more than 50 miles
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Death certificates or other documents
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Please be aware that the help you may receive from the government may not cover all of the costs of the funeral. Please click below to read more about how to apply for government help with the costs of a funeral for your loved one.
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BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT PAYMENTS
You may be able to get a Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner has died within the last 21 months. You must claim within 3 months to get the full payment.
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You could be eligible if your partner either:
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Paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year
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Died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work
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When they died you must have been:
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Under State Pension age
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Living in the UK
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Married to your partner, in a civil partnership with them, or living with them as if you were married
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If you are entitled, you will usually get a lump sum, followed by monthly payments. Please click below to read more about how to apply for Bereavement Support Payments.
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PAYING WITH THE BANK ACCOUNT OF THE PERSON WHO HAS DIED
Your loved one may have left money in their account to pay for their funeral.
However, the bank or building society normally freezes their individual account(s) when they’re told of the person’s death. You usually need the help of the executor or administrator of the estate to access the money in their account once it’s frozen.
It is sometimes possible to access the money in their account without their help. As a minimum, you’ll need a copy of the death certificate, and an invoice for the funeral costs with your name on it.
The bank or building society might also want proof of your identity. They can then pay the essential funeral bills directly to the Funeral Director.
It’s not a good idea to access the person’s individual accounts, even if you know their debit card PIN or online banking log-in.
Speak to the bank first if you need to do this – or you could get into legal trouble.
If the person who died has a joint account where the joint owner is still alive, that person can still access the money in the account.
CLAIMING FUNERAL COSTS FROM THE ESTATE
Whoever pays for the funeral – family, friends or the council – can look to recover the costs from the estate of the person who died.
Sometimes, their estate isn’t large enough to cover this.
If the person who died had other debts, funeral costs are usually paid first. However, some secured debts, such as a mortgage, are paid before funeral costs.
If you offer to pay for the funeral, it’s worth checking with the administrator of the estate that you’re able to recover the money later if you need to.
Knowing how much money is in the estate to cover the funeral costs might also affect the type of funeral you want to pay for.