To qualify for help from the Social Fund you must meet certain criteria:-

You must be arranging the funeral and taking personal responsibility for payment of the funeral costs.

You, or your partner must be currently in receipt of one of the following qualifying benefits; Income Support, Income based Job Seekers Allowance, Working Tax Credit where a disabled worker is included in the assessment, Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit.

The DSS will also look at the suitability of other family members to pay the funeral costs. If, for example, you have a brother or sister who is not in receipt of a benefit your claim may be disallowed even if that brother or sister lives some distance away and has not had regular contact.

Any money from the estate or any other source will be taken into account and the claim will be reduced by the amounts available.

If your claim is successful the DSS will pay the cost of cremation fees and associated medical fees or basic burial costs together with a maximum amount of £700.00 towards the Funeral Directors and Ministers costs.