Bereavement & Loss Support: Funeral Costs and Benefits

Funeral costs can include:

• funeral director fees
• things the funeral director pays for on your behalf, like crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death
• local council burial or cremation fees

Paying for a funeral

The funeral can be paid for:

• from a financial scheme the person had, like a pre-paid funeral plan or insurance policy
• by you, or other family members or friends
• with money from the person's estate (eg savings)

Check if there is a pre-paid funeral plan, life insurance or savings to cover the costs of the funeral, including whether a lair (burial plot) has already been paid for in a churchyard or cemetery. You could look for papers at home or discuss with other relatives who might know.

Funeral Support Payment helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland. You can use the payment towards funeral costs for a baby, child or adult. This includes babies who were stillborn.

It usually will not cover the full cost of the funeral but it should help pay for some costs. It can be paid either to you or the funeral director who's helping you plan the funeral.

Only one person can get Funeral Support Payment for the funeral.

You'll have to make new claims for some benefits that your husband, wife or civil partner was claiming for your family.

You may be able to get benefits to help with your bereavement:

• Funeral Support Payments – to help towards the cost of a funeral if you're on a low income
• Bereavement Allowance (previously Widow's Pension) – if you're aged between 45 and State Pension age
• Bereavement Payment – if your husband, wife or civil partner paid National Insurance
• Widowed Parent's Allowance – if you have at least one dependent child
• Guardian's Allowance – if you're looking after a child who is not your own

For information on the above go to https://www.mygov.scot/bereavement-benefits/

Additional Information and Support with Funeral costs

Quaker Social Action – Down to Earth
Phone: 020 8983 5055 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm)
Email: downtoearth@qsa.org.uk
Provides support for people struggling with the costs of a funeral.

The Good Funeral Guide
Independent information to help you arrange a funeral and get value for money.

Registering a Death – Advice and Local Authority Links

Local Authority websites provide information about burial services, registering a death and other related advice. 

Information can be obtained by contacting Comhairle nan Eilean Siar offices as follows:

Lewis – Stornoway Town Hall

The office operates an appointment system. To make an appointment to register a death, or for any other enquiry contact 01851 822620 or email at registrars@cne-siar.gov.uk

Harris – Old Primary School, West Tarbert 

The office operates an appointment system. To make an appointment to register a death, or for any other enquiry contact  01859 502367 or email at registrars@cne-siar.gov.uk

Uist – Balivanich Council Offices

The office operates an appointment system. To make an appointment to register a death, or for any other enquiry contact  01870 604981 or email at registrars@cne-siar.gov.uk

Barra – Castlebay Council Offices

The office operates an appointment system. To make an appointment to register a death, or for any other enquiry contact  01871 810431 or email at registrars@cne-siar.gov.uk