Paying for a funeral

The average cost of a simple attended funeral in the UK is £3,828.

This includes employing a funeral director and the costs of a mid-range coffin, funeral limousine and the funeral administration together with any burial or cremation fees and celebrant’s fees.

If you want more than a basic funeral, for example where friends and family gather together after the funeral to drink a toast or enjoy a time to reminisce over a cup of tea, the venue and catering would cost more. The Sunlife Cost of Dying Report says that the average cost of dying, which includes the funeral, professional fees and send-off costs, is £4,510.

On the other hand, the lowest-priced type of funeral, a direct cremation, now sits at £1,628.

Funeral director’s fees usually consist of:

• fees for the services and items they provide, such as the coffin and vehicles
• fees paid to third parties, such as a minister or celebrant, doctors and the cemetery or crematorium
• VAT for items such as flowers, catering or a memorial; the services of the funeral director, minister and cemetery or crematorium are exempt from VAT.

This might not be the best of times for investigating costs, but it’s advisable to ask friends for recommendations and you might also want to get in some comparative quotes.

Pre-paid plan

Before making any arrangements, check if there was a pre-paid funeral plan, in which case everything should already be taken care of.

If there is a pre-paid funeral plan, it will usually include details of what the person wanted, as well as which funeral director to use. If they have left instructions for their funeral but there is not enough money available to carry out their wishes, you can make changes, as the instructions are not legally binding.

No pre-paid plan

If there isn’t a pre-paid funeral plan, the cost of the funeral is usually paid for by the estate of the deceased. The bank that is holding the funds should release sufficient money in time for the funeral, but if it doesn’t, the person organising the funeral may have to temporarily cover the costs until probate comes through.

If you are using a funeral director to organise the funeral, the person who signs the papers at the funeral director’s is responsible for paying for the funeral. Funerals can be costly, so it is important not to sign a contract (or the arrangement form) with the funeral director until you are sure that you want to use their service and you know how the funeral will be paid for.

You should also check if there was a will. A person’s wishes for their funeral are not legally binding on the next of kin, even if they’re written in the will, but it can be comforting to know that you’re following their wishes.

In some cases, there may be practical reasons why it’s not possible to fulfil all of their wishes. For example, there may not be enough money to do everything that has been requested, or the deceased may not have left space within a ceremony for a eulogy or tribute to be given, and the family may wish for it.

Funeral Expenses Payment

If the deceased hasn’t left enough money to pay for the funeral, a Funeral Expenses Payment can help pay for some of the costs of the funeral, including cremation or burial fees, travel to the funeral, the cost of moving the body (in some cases), and death certificates and other documents. You may also get up to £1,000 towards other funeral costs.

The payment won’t usually cover all the costs of the funeral and you or your partner have to meet certain criteria, including being in receipt of one of the following benefits:

•  Universal Credit
•  Income Support
•  Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
•  Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
•  Pension Credit
•  Housing Benefit
•  Working Tax Credit: disability or severe disability element
•  Child Tax Credit

If you’ve already paid for the funeral, the Funeral Expenses Payment will be paid into your bank, building society or credit union account. If you’ve not yet paid, it will be paid directly to the organiser of the funeral.

You must apply within six months of the funeral.

Other help

In some cases, your local council may arrange a ‘public health funeral’ if no one is able or willing to organise or pay for one. This usually only applies if no other suitable arrangements are being made, so it’s important to seek advice before making funeral arrangements.

You can check whether you are eligible for bereavement benefits by visiting the GOV.UK page ‘What to do when someone dies’.

Simple funerals

All funeral directors should offer a basic, lower-cost funeral option. If your funeral director is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), they will follow professional standards and provide clear pricing. Ask your funeral director what their basic funeral package includes.

Alternatively, you might want to consider organising a direct (otherwise known as a basic) cremation, which is usually the cheapest form of funeral. The time and place of the cremation will be fixed by the crematorium and mourners do not usually attend, although some providers offer an attended option. The remains are returned to loved ones after the cremation.

Related pages

• Planning your own funeral, which includes information about purchasing a funeral plan.
• Arranging a funeral: there are many decisions to make when arranging a funeral and this article considers the key questions to ask yourself.
• Planning a funeral service: there are many things to consider when planning for a funeral service; read this article to find out about the most important aspects.