Scots may not be aware of a scheme which helps provide financial support worth an average of £1,804 towards the costs of a loved one's funeral.
The Funeral Support Payment can be used to help pay for the burial or cremation of a baby, child or adult in Scotland, and also includes babies who were stillborn. The latest figures from Social Security Scotland show that since the scheme launched in September 2019, some 14,700 applications have been made up until the end of June 2021.
More than £17 million has been issued since 2019 to those eligible for financial support, with an average payment of £1,804 made within 10-21 working days during 2021 - an increase on the typical £1,791 paid in the previous tax year.
And if you could not apply for the Funeral Support Payment within six months of the funeral taking place due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Social Security Scotland will still accept your application.
Below are all the details on the scheme including eligibility and how to apply.
Who can apply for a Funeral Support Payment?
You can claim for a Funeral Support Payment if all of the following apply:
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you live in Scotland
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you or your partner are getting certain benefits or tax credits
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the person who died lived in the UK
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the funeral is being held in the UK or in some circumstances in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
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you are applying after the person has died, until six months after the date of their funeral
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you or your partner are responsible for the funeral
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it is reasonable for you or your partner to accept responsibility for the funeral costs
Usually, it is reasonable for the nearest relative of the person who died to accept responsibility for the funeral costs.
A nearest relative could be a partner, child, parent or sibling. If you or your partner are not the nearest relative, you'll need to explain to Social Security Scotland when you apply, why it's reasonable to have accepted responsibility.
Benefits and Tax Credits you or your partner must receive to qualify
You or your partner must get one or more of the following:
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Child Tax Credit
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Universal Credit
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Income Support
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Pension Credit
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Working Tax Credit (disability or severe disability element)
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Housing Benefit
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Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), not contribution-based JSA
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), not contribution-based ESA
How to apply
Before applying for Funeral Support Payment, you should:
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register the death of the person who died
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check that you're eligible for Funeral Support Payment
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consider giving your funeral director consent to speak with Social Security Scotland about your application
To complete this form, you will need:
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your National Insurance number
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details of the funeral director
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any travel receipts or funeral bills you have so far
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your bank account details, if you'd like Social Security Scotland to pay you and not your funeral director
To find out more, or to apply online, visit the dedicated section on MyGov.Scot website here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
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