Free and Low-Cost Funeral Options in the UK
The average UK funeral costs £3,828 for a simple attended service and £4,510 for a traditional one, according to the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026. For many families, that is simply not affordable, especially when the loss was unexpected. This guide sets out every option available to you, honestly and without judgement. There is always a way to give someone a dignified farewell.
Key takeaways
- + If no one can arrange a funeral, the council must do it by law at no cost to the family
- + DWP Funeral Expenses Payment covers cremation/burial fees with no cap, plus up to £1,000 if you are on benefits
- + The Children's Funeral Fund covers all burial/cremation fees for under-18s with no means test
- + Direct cremation from around £1,095 is a dignified, affordable alternative
- + Most banks will release funeral funds before probate on receipt of a death certificate and invoice
An important note before you read on: funeral costs are treated as a priority debt of the estate. This means they can be paid from the person's bank accounts before anything else is settled. If the person had any savings at all, ask the funeral director and the bank about releasing funds directly for the funeral before probate is granted. Many banks will do this on receipt of a death certificate and an invoice. This option is often overlooked.
Which option is right for you?
Work through these questions in order to find the most relevant option for your situation.
Did the person have any savings, a life insurance policy, or a funeral plan?
If yes, these should cover costs first. Ask the bank about releasing funeral funds before probate. Contact the insurer with the death certificate to claim any life insurance. A pre-paid funeral plan transfers directly to the funeral director.
Was the person a child under 18, or was it a stillbirth after 24 weeks?
If yes: the Children's Funeral Fund covers burial and cremation fees in England at no cost to you. There is no means test. See the section below for details.
Are you receiving means-tested benefits?
If yes: you may qualify for a DWP Funeral Expenses Payment. This covers the cremation or burial fee in full, with no cap, plus up to £1,000 for other costs. See below for qualifying benefits and how to claim.
Is no one willing or able to arrange the funeral?
If yes: the local council is legally required to arrange a public health funeral. This is a last resort option and the council may attempt to recover costs from the estate, but in England and Wales there is no cost to the family.
Can you arrange it yourself and keep costs to a minimum?
If yes: a direct cremation (from around £1,095) or a DIY funeral (where you handle the arrangements yourself) can reduce costs significantly. Both are completely legal. Details below.
Option 1: Public health funeral (council funeral)
What it is
Under section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, every local council in England and Wales has a duty to arrange a funeral if no one else will or can. The equivalent duty is section 87 of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 in Scotland, and section 25 of the Welfare Services Act (Northern Ireland) 1971, which places the duty on district councils, in Northern Ireland. This is not a charity; it is a legal obligation. The council will arrange a simple cremation (or burial in some circumstances) with no service and no family present, unless you specifically arrange to attend.
The cost to you
There is no upfront cost to the family. However, the council will attempt to recover reasonable costs from the estate. If the person left no money or assets, the costs are written off. If there is an estate, even a small one, the council will claim from it before anything is distributed to beneficiaries.
One point that worries families more than it needs to: in England and Wales, councils have not been able to pursue relatives for these costs since 6 April 2009, when that power was removed from section 46. They can only claim from the estate. The same applies in Scotland. Northern Ireland is the exception, as section 25 still allows a district council to recover from a person who was liable to maintain the deceased, so it is worth asking the council there what their practice is.
When to use it
A public health funeral is appropriate when the person had no next of kin, when the family genuinely cannot afford any funeral at all, or when there are family disputes about who is responsible. It is not appropriate simply to avoid cost if other options are available. Contact your local council's environmental health department to start the process.
What it does not include
A public health funeral is functional, not ceremonial. There is typically no service, no music, no flowers, and no opportunity for family to say goodbye in a formal way. If the family wants any of these things, they will need to arrange and fund them separately. Some councils do allow family members to attend. Ask your council contact what is possible.
Option 2: DWP Funeral Expenses Payment
What it covers
The DWP's Funeral Expenses Payment covers the burial fee for a particular plot or the cremation fee in full, with no cap on that part, plus up to £1,000 for other costs such as the funeral director's fees, coffin and flowers. It also helps with travel to arrange or attend the funeral, moving the person more than 50 miles within the UK, and the cost of death certificates and other documents. If they had a pre-paid funeral plan, the £1,000 drops to £120 towards items the plan does not cover. If the estate has any assets, the DWP will recover the payment from those assets after the funeral. This is the England and Wales scheme. In Scotland it is replaced by Funeral Support Payment, which pays a flat rate of £1,327.75 (£162.05 if there was a fully paid pre-paid plan) on top of burial or cremation costs.
Who qualifies
In England and Wales, you can apply if you (the person arranging the funeral) or your partner are currently receiving one of these:
- + Universal Credit
- + Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- + Pension Credit
- + Housing Benefit
- + A Support for Mortgage Interest loan
This list is shorter than it used to be. Tax credits ended in April 2025, and Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance are no longer listed for England and Wales. If you are still receiving one of those older benefits, please do ring the Bereavement Service anyway rather than assume you are turned down.
Scotland's Funeral Support Payment uses a wider list, which does still include Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance alongside Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and income-related ESA.
The relationship rules
You must have been close enough to the person who died. The DWP accepts: spouse or civil partner; partner you lived with; a child (including a stillborn child after 24 weeks); a close relative or close friend (if there is no other more appropriate person who could apply). The DWP will also check whether there are other people who could have applied instead. If there is a closer relative who is not on benefits, you may not qualify.
How to apply
Apply on form SF200, which is available at gov.uk or by calling the Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012 (free to call). You must apply within 6 months of the funeral. The DWP will tell you how much they will pay and may ask for evidence. Payment goes directly to the funeral director in most cases, so you do not need to fund the funeral first and claim back.
Option 3: Children's Funeral Fund
The Children's Funeral Fund for England was introduced in 2019. It covers the burial plot or cremation fees for any child under 18, or for a baby born after 24 weeks of pregnancy (including stillbirths), and it also pays up to £300 towards a coffin, shroud or casket. There is no means test and no application form for the family to complete. The funeral director applies directly to the NHS Business Services Authority on your behalf.
Beyond the fees and that £300, the fund does not cover funeral director fees, flowers, or other costs. However, if you are also on qualifying benefits, you can claim a DWP Funeral Expenses Payment for the remaining costs.
The other nations each have their own arrangement. In Wales, burial and cremation fees are waived and families receive a £500 contribution towards other costs. In Scotland, councils have not charged burial or cremation fees for under-18s since 2018, and there is nothing for the family to apply for. In Northern Ireland, the Child Funeral Fund pays a lump sum of £3,441 towards a basic funeral. Ask your funeral director or local council about the scheme in your nation.
Option 4: Direct cremation
What it is
A direct cremation is a simple cremation with no funeral service and no mourners at the crematorium. The person is collected by the funeral director, cremated, and their ashes returned to the family. The UK average cost is £1,628 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026), and published prices start from around £1,095 with the national providers. This is significantly cheaper than a traditional funeral but still a private, dignified arrangement. See our full cost of dying guide for a complete breakdown.
You can still hold a memorial
A direct cremation does not mean there is no opportunity to gather and remember the person. Many families hold a separate memorial service after the cremation: in a garden, a church hall, a favourite pub, or a venue that meant something to the person. The ashes can be present or scattered at the service. There is no time limit, and the memorial can be as simple or as meaningful as you choose.
Finding a provider
Direct cremation providers include Dignity, Pure Cremation, Simplicity Cremations, and various independent funeral directors. In mid-2026 the national providers were publishing prices from around £1,095 to about £1,600, with a national median of £1,545 across all published price lists, so it is well worth comparing two or three. Always check that the provider is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), and ask for a full written price list before agreeing to anything, as the lowest headline prices sometimes exclude collection from home or the return of the ashes.
Option 5: DIY funeral (arranging without a funeral director)
Is it legal?
Yes. In England and Wales, there is no legal requirement to use a funeral director. You can legally keep the person at home (in appropriate conditions), build your own coffin, arrange transport in your own vehicle, and contact a crematorium or burial ground directly to book. You will need the death certificate and, for cremation, a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) completed by the attending practitioner and scrutinised by a medical examiner. Since 9 September 2024, the old system of two separate cremation forms (Form Cremation 4 and 5, signed by two doctors) has been replaced by the medical examiner system in England and Wales, removing those doctors' fees entirely. Northern Ireland still uses cremation certificates signed by two doctors, and their fees still apply there. The Natural Death Centre (naturaldeath.org.uk) provides detailed, practical guidance for DIY funerals.
What a DIY funeral might cost
The cremation fee alone (booked directly with the crematorium) is typically £700-£1,100 depending on the area, and unattended slots are often cheaper still. A simple cardboard or wicker coffin costs £100-£400. Since 9 September 2024, the medical examiner system has replaced the old two-doctor cremation certificate process in England and Wales, so there is no longer a separate doctor's fee for cremation forms. Total: roughly £800-£1,500 for a DIY cremation. A DIY burial in a natural burial ground can cost £800-£1,500 for the plot and digging fees.
Is it right for everyone?
A DIY funeral requires someone to be willing and able to handle the practicalities: caring for the person, dealing with paperwork, and coordinating with the crematorium or burial ground. This is not for everyone, and there is absolutely no obligation. But for those who are able and willing, it can be a very meaningful and cost-effective way to care for someone you love.
Option 6: Charitable and other sources of help
Royal British Legion
If the person who died served in the armed forces (or was the spouse, partner, or child of someone who did), the Royal British Legion may be able to help with funeral costs. Contact their welfare team on 0808 802 8080. This is a grant, not a loan, and does not need to be repaid.
Trade union benevolent funds
Many trade unions have benevolent funds that can help members or their families with funeral costs. Check with the person's union if they were a member, or contact the TUC for guidance on which union may apply.
Religious organisations
Many churches, mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras, and other religious organisations have funds to help families who cannot afford a funeral, particularly for members of their congregation. Contact the relevant religious leader directly and explain your situation honestly.
Local charities and community foundations
Local community foundations and charitable trusts sometimes have hardship funds that can help with funeral costs. Search the Directory of Social Change or contact your local Citizens Advice for guidance on what is available in your area.
Funeral directors' own payment plans
Some funeral directors will allow you to pay in instalments, particularly if the estate is going through probate and funds will eventually be released. Ask directly and get the arrangement in writing. Not all funeral directors offer this, but it is worth asking.
Crowdfunding
GoFundMe and JustGiving are both commonly used to raise money for funeral costs. Many families find that friends, colleagues, and community members are willing to contribute when they know there is a specific need. Be clear about what the money is for and how it will be used. GoFundMe does not charge a platform fee; JustGiving charges a small percentage.
Remember: funeral costs come from the estate first
Even if the person who died had money in the bank, you may not be able to access it immediately without probate. However, most major banks will release funds directly to a funeral director on receipt of the death certificate and a funeral invoice, without waiting for probate. This is called "releasing funds for funeral expenses" and is standard practice. Ask the bank specifically about this before you assume you cannot access the money.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to have a funeral in the UK?
A direct cremation is the most affordable private option, starting from around £1,095 with the national providers, with a UK average of £1,628. There is no service at the crematorium. You can hold a separate memorial at a venue of your choice at little or no cost.
Can you have a funeral with no money?
Yes. If you are on qualifying benefits, the DWP Funeral Expenses Payment covers burial or cremation fees in full, with no cap, plus up to £1,000 for other costs. If no one is able to arrange a funeral, the local council is legally required to do so at no cost to the family.
Who pays for a funeral if there is no money in the estate?
If the person had no money and no one can afford to pay, the local council arranges a public health funeral. In England and Wales this duty is section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984; in Scotland it is section 87 of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016, and in Northern Ireland section 25 of the Welfare Services Act (Northern Ireland) 1971. This is a legal obligation, not charity. Since 6 April 2009, English and Welsh councils can only recover the cost from the estate, not from relatives. The family may also be able to claim DWP Funeral Expenses Payment if they are on qualifying benefits.
Can I arrange a funeral without a funeral director?
Yes. In England and Wales, there is no legal requirement to use a funeral director. You can keep the person at home, build your own coffin, and book directly with a crematorium or burial ground. The Natural Death Centre provides practical guidance.
This guide is free forever
We created Help After Loss to make a difficult time a little easier. If this guide helped you, please consider sharing it with someone who might need it.
Next steps: After the funeral, you will need to notify organisations of the death. Our template letters and call scripts make this easier. See our step-by-step guide for the full process.
Related guides
Costs Breakdown
What everything costs and practical ways to reduce expenses
Who to Notify
Phone numbers, online forms, and step-by-step processes for every bank, utility, and insurer
The True Cost of Dying in the UK
Every cost you may face when someone dies, with real 2026 figures and ways to reduce them
Template Letters
Ready-to-use letters for banks, utilities, HMRC, employers, and more
Not sure what applies to your situation?
Our personalised guide helps you work through the practical and financial steps after a bereavement, including which benefits you may be entitled to claim.
Get Your Personalised Guide