The costs of a funeral can vary considerably, depending on a wide range of factors, and it is impossible to give an average figure. The overall cost of a funeral is made up of a two elements – our charges for the services and items which we provide, and the fees and charges of the third parties involved, such as crematoria and cemeteries, churches and officiants, doctors and potentially a number of others such as newspapers, florists, stonemasons and providers of alternative funeral vehicles. These 3rd party costs are also known as disbursements.
We are happy to give an estimate of the likely costs of a funeral, either in person or on the telephone, before a commitment has been made to entrust us with funeral arrangements. Please contact us if you would like to discuss funeral costs with a member of our team.
As part of a funeral arrangement meeting, we will provide an estimate of these costs, and discuss with you how these costs are to be met. We request part of these costs – in most cases only the third party fees – prior to the funeral, and send an account for the remainder of the costs after the funeral has taken place.
We realise that, for some, meeting funeral costs can be difficult, and funds are not always immediately available.
In certain circumstances, those arranging a funeral may be eligible for assistance from the DWP social fund.
To qualify, both you and anyone else who shares the same relationship with the deceased as you, must be receiving one of a number of benefits, including Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Disability Working Allowance, Family Credit or Housing Benefit. Any money in the deceased’s estate will be deducted from the amount you are awarded.
Any payment made will be only a contribution towards the overall cost of the funeral, and all costs over and above the payment made by DWP remain the responsibility of the person who has arranged the funeral, and will need to be paid in advance of the funeral. For full details of what the funeral payment covers, please view the funeral claim form on GOV.UK
If you would like to talk to someone about funeral payments, get in touch with your Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or talk to someone at an advice centre such as Citizen’s Advice Bureau. They will be able to advise you on the type and amount of financial help you can expect, based on your personal circumstances.
To help cope with costs associated with losing a partner, you may be entitled to a tax-free one-off bereavement support payment of up to £2,000.
To be eligible, you need to be under the State Pension age at the time you lost your partner. Your partner needed to have paid National Insurance contributions, been ineligible to receive a Category A State Retirement Benefit or lost their life from an accident at work.
Bereavement payments, however, can affect other benefits that you may be receiving, so it’s important to check with the relevant authority to see if your benefits may change. For full details of what the funeral payment covers, please view the bereavement benefits claim form on GOV.UK
We can offer a Limited Service Option which is available for those who wish to keep funeral costs to an absolute minimum. This excludes many of the options and services which form part of a traditional funeral.
The coffin is conveyed straight to the place of committal, and we provide a minimum number of staff to assist the family to handle the coffin themselves.
For those who do not wish to hold a funeral service at all, our Direct Burial or Cremation Option is available.
When we arrange the funeral with you, we’ll issue you with an estimate itemising our costs, and those of third parties that we’ll be paying on your behalf, such as crematorium and newspaper fees. In most cases, we will request payment of these third party fees prior to the funeral. In certain circumstances, such as when the Limited Service or Direct Options have been selected, we request that the full amount be paid prior to the funeral.
For all outstanding balances, we’ll then issue a funeral account after the funeral and payment is due within 28 days by cash, cheque, debit or credit card or bank transfer.
If paying for the funeral is a problem, please let us know at the time of making the arrangements and we can discuss the various options available.
