How much does a funeral cost in the UK?
In the UK, the average cost of a funeral in 2025 is a staggering £4,285.
The type of funeral will influence the overall cost; a cremation could work out to be a cheaper option, averaging at £3,980, compared to a burial, which costs an average of £5,198, excluding burial plot costs.
Who pays for a funeral?
If your loved one made a will, they may have included instructions for the arrangement and cost of their own funeral. In some cases, a pre-paid funeral plan may already be in place.
It is up to the named executor in the will to fulfil any funeral arrangements and costs.
If a loved one died unexpectedly or without a will, they might not have given much thought to funeral plans and costs. Funeral costs will usually need to be paid for with money from your loved one’s estate/ assets, or by a relative or close friend.
Help with funeral costs
1. Funeral Expenses Payment
If you’re in receipt of certain benefits, you may be eligible to claim a Funeral Expenses Payment from the government. Please note that this is only available in England and Wales. There are different systems in place if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
To be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment, you must be claiming at least one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
You will also need to be either;
- The partner of the deceased;
- The parent of or guardian responsible for a child under the age of 16, or 20 if they were in full-time education; or
- The parent of a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
If the deceased did not have a partner, a relative or close friend could be entitled to claim a Funeral Expenses Payment instead.
What could a Funeral Expenses Payment help pay for?
If you’re eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment, you could use the money to cover the cost of:
- The death certificate;
- Cremation fees;
- Burial fees for a specific plot;
- Travel costs relating to the funeral; and
- Moving the body within 50 miles, if it’s within the UK.
How much money could I get from a Funeral Expenses Payment?
The amount of money you could get from a Funeral Expenses Payment will depend on your circumstances.
If the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan in place, you’ll be able to get up to £120, which can be used to help fund any arrangements not covered by their plan.
Please note that if you receive money from the deceased’s estate, the Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from this.
If you’ve already paid for the funeral, any money you’re entitled to will be paid into your bank or building society account. If you haven’t yet paid, the money will be sent directly to the funeral director.
Where can I apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment?
You can find out more, check your eligibility, and apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment here.
2. Bereavement Support Payment
Bereavement Support Payment is not specially designed to cover funeral costs, but if approved, you could use the money towards funeral expenses if you’re struggling to pay.
You could get a Bereavement Support Payment if you were married, in a civil partnership or living with your partner when they passed away. You must also have been under State Pension age and living in the UK (or a country that pays bereavement benefits) when they died.
In addition to this, your partner must have either:
- Died as a result of an accident at work, or an illness caused by work; or
- Paid a certain amount of Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance Contributions in any one tax year since April 6, 1975.
If you’re unsure whether your partner paid enough National Insurance contributions to qualify you for Bereavement Support Payment, you’re still welcome to apply; the service will be able to provide you with further information and let you know the outcome of your claim.
How long do I have to claim a Bereavement Support Payment?
You can claim a Bereavement Support Payment within 21 months of your partner passing away, although if their cause of death was confirmed after 21 months, you could still be eligible. You should call the Bereavement Service helpline for more information.
Please note that to be considered for the full Bereavement Support Payment amount, you’ll need to submit your claim within 3 months of your partner’s passing.
How much money could I get with a Bereavement Support Payment?
The amount of Bereavement Support Payment you receive will depend on:
- When your claim is made;
- Your relationship to the deceased; and
- When you’re due to reach State Pension age.
We’ve included a detailed breakdown of some of the circumstances and possible payments you could receive if eligible for Bereavement Support Payment.
| Circumstances | How much you could get |
|---|---|
You were married or in a civil partnership, and when your partner died, you were either:
|
Higher rate:
Lower rate:
|
| You were living together as if you were married. |
|
| Your claim is made within 3 months of your partner passing away. | You’ll get the one-off payment and 18 monthly payments relevant to your situation. |
| Your claim is made between 3 and 12 months after your partner has passed away. | You’ll get the one-off payment and some of the monthly payments relevant to your situation. |
| Your claim is made more than 12 months but fewer than 21 months after your partner passed away. | You could get some of the monthly payments relevant to your situation, but not the one-off payment. |
| Your partner died more than 21 months ago. | You’re not usually eligible to claim Bereavement Support Benefit unless the cause of your partner’s cause of death has only recently been released. |
| You reach State Pension age within 18 months after your partner passed away. | You could get fewer monthly payments. |
The amount of money you get will not be affected by how much you earn or any benefits you currently receive.
Where can I apply for a Bereavement Support Payment?
To find out more about a Bereavement Support Payment or to make an application, visit the Gov.uk website.
3. Paying funeral costs through instalments
If you’re confident that you could afford to cover the cost of the funeral, but you don’t have the money upfront, it might be worth discussing the possibility of a payment plan with the funeral director.
A payment plan could help to spread the cost of the overall expense, although you’ll need to make sure that the instalments are affordable for you without putting a strain on your budget.
You’ll usually need to make a payment up-front, and then further payments in instalments over a set period of time.
Of course, it’s important to bear in mind that not all funeral planners and directors will offer the choice of a payment plan.
If a payment plan isn’t an option and you’re struggling to afford the costs, you might consider a more basic funeral that won’t stretch so far financially.
Remember, you don’t need to spend thousands to create a meaningful send-off for your loved one; there are many low-cost things you can do to honour their memory. At the end of the day, it’s important not to lose sight of what a funeral is and isn’t. It’s not about money or grand gestures but rather celebrating the life of your loved one and the person they were.
4. A personal loan
A funeral is an essential cost.
If an instalment plan isn’t available, you might think about doing some research into a personal loan.
CashLady is a credit broker, and we could help you search for a suitable funeral loan. We work with a panel of over 30 direct lenders who offer short-term, personal loans from £100 to £10,000.
How do funeral loans work?
Funeral loans work in the same way as other types of short-term, personal loans. If approved, the lender will send the money to your bank account, which can then be used to cover the cost of funeral-related expenses.
The funeral loan will be repaid in monthly instalments. With CashLady, you can search for a funeral loan with a repayment term between 3 and 60 months, depending on the amount you apply to borrow.
Who can apply for a funeral loan?
It’s important to make sure you match the lender’s eligibility criteria before you make an application.
While criteria may vary between lenders, you can usually apply for a funeral loan if you:
- Are over the age of 18;
- Are a UK resident;
- Have a UK bank account and a valid debit card; and
- Have a regular source of income paid into your bank account.
You can use CashLady’s credit broking service to search for a funeral loan if you meet the above criteria.
Funeral loans for bad credit
Bad credit funeral loans do exist, but you should take the time to do thorough research before you decide whether to apply. A bad credit loan could come with a higher rate of interest, and you’ll need to be sure that making your monthly repayments won’t leave you unable to cover the cost of your essential outgoings, such as housing, bills, and food.
What happens if you can’t afford a funeral?
If there’s not enough money in your loved one’s estate to cover the cost of the funeral and you can’t afford the payments yourself, then your local hospital or council can arrange a Public Health Funeral.
The date and time of a Public Health Funeral will usually be decided by the council. A short service will normally take place, although this will not include personal extras such as transport or flowers.
Help is available
If you’ve lost someone close to you, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Don’t let money worries add to your stress.
If you’re struggling with finances or are concerned about debt, please know that you can get free, confidential, impartial support through any of the following charities and organisations: StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline.
Mental health charity Mind has put together this useful page about bereavement support services, which you may find helpful.
Navigating the loss of a loved one is incredibly difficult. Some days you might be ‘okay’, while others could feel like the world is ending.
It’s important to be kind to yourself and take your time in healing. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve, no set timeframes, and the process will look different for everyone. Look after yourself and never be afraid to reach out and ask for help if you need it.