skip through navigation (Access Key = S ) Jump to Accessibility Information (Access Key = 0 ) Jump to Home Page (Access Key = 1 ) Jump to News (Access Key = 2 ) Jump to Site Map (Access Key = 3 ) Jump to Search Box (Access Key = 4 ) Jump to Frequently Asked Questions (Access Key = 5 ) Jump to Help Page (Access Key = 6 ) Jump to Complaints (Access Key = 7 ) Jump to Terms and Conditions (Access Key = 8 ) Jump to Feedback Form (Access Key = 9 ) Jump to content (Access Key = N ) Jump to Business and Advice (Access Key = B ) Jump to Leisure and Culture (Access Key = C ) Jump to Council and Community Diary (Access Key = M ) Jump to Environment and Planning (Access Key = V ) Jump to Community and Learning (Access Key = G ) Jump to Do It Online (Access Key = O ) Jump to Children and Young People (Access Key = P ) Jump to A to Z Services (Access Key = T ) Jump to Your Council (Access Key = Y ) Jump to A too Z site Index (Access Key = Z ) jump to Read Speaker functionality (Access Key = L) Jump to Printer Friendly Version (Access Key = F) Jump to Text Only (Access Key = J) Jump to Change Contrast (Access Key = K)
Bereavement allowances and payments
There are a number of expenses involved when somebody dies. These include:

  • doctor's certificates
  • removal of the deceased
  • care and embalming of the deceased
  • hearse and limousine
  • notices in local papers
  • preparation services for the deceased
  • church and Minister fees
  • flowers
  • cemetery or crematorium fees
  • reception arrangement
  • memorials
There is a range of allowances and payments available to help cover these expenses.

Bereavement Allowance (Form BB1)

This benefit is paid if your spouse or civil partner dies and you are 45 or over but under pensionable age when they die. It is paid on a taxable weekly basis for up to 52 weeks. It is based on your late partner's National Insurance contributions. If you have dependent children you should claim widowed parent's allowance.

Bereavement allowance – Directgov information (external website)

Bereavement Payment (Form BB1)

A bereavement payment is made if you are under pensionable age and your spouse or civil partner dies. It is a one-off, tax-free lump sum payment of £2,000. It is based on your late partner's National Insurance contributions.

Bereavement payment – Directgov information (external website)

Funeral Expenses Payment (Form SF200)

Funeral expenses payments are grants given to help pay for a funeral, provided by the Social Fund. In order to make a claim, you or your partner must be receiving one of the following benefits: income support, pension credit, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit, council tax benefit, working tax credit that has a disability or severe disability element in it, or child tax credit in excess of the basic family element. You will need to repay this payment from the estate of the person who died.

Funeral expenses payment - Directgov information (external website)

Widow's Benefit

Bereavement benefits replaced widow's benefits for new claimants from April 2001, but existing claimants continue to get widow's pension.

Widow’s benefit – DWP information (external website)

Widowed Parent's Allowance

A weekly benefit introduced in April 2001, paid to widows or widowers under pensionable age with dependent children. This is based on their late spouse's National Insurance contributions.

Widowed parent’s allowance – Directgov information (external website)

If there is nobody to make suitable funeral arrangements

If the deceased has no one to make suitable funeral arrangements for them, Spelthorne Council will exercise its duty under Section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act, 1984 to arrange for the deceased to be cremated or buried. This legislation allows for the recovery of expenses from the deceased's estate.

Burial

It is not a requirement to purchase the grant of exclusive right of burial in a grave space. A burial may be arranged in a common grave where the exclusive rights are not purchased. A common grave is shared with unrelated burials.