Funeral Support Payment

Paying for a funeral

A simple burial in Scotland costs around £4,800, while a simple cremation can be around £3,700. These amounts can be higher depending on the type of service chosen and other expenses such as flowers and transport.

Many people do not put aside enough money to cover the cost of their own funeral. This can leave loved ones wondering how to pay for the funeral of a family member.

Even if the deceased has enough money in their estate to cover costs, it can take up to a year or more for the estate to be settled and money to be released. This means funeral costs must be paid upfront by the people responsible for making the funeral arrangements.

What is Funeral Support Payment?

Funeral Support Payment is a one-off payment from Social Security Scotland. It can help towards costs if you are on a low income and responsible for arranging the funeral of someone close to you.

To be eligible for the payment, you must be living in Scotland and be receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit, such as Pension Credit. Other rules include that the person who has died must have normally lived in the UK, and the funeral itself must usually be held in the UK.

The Age Scotland Funeral Support Payment guide provides further information about how to claim Funeral Support Payment, and what you could get.

If you’d like to know more about planning a funeral, including how to put money aside for your own funeral, see our Arranging a Funeral guide. You can read, download or order the guide online, or call the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222.

Benefit Workshops

The benefits system is complicated. It can be difficult to work out what you are entitled to, and how to claim it. Find out more about joining one of our Benefit Workshops.