Individuals residing in Scotland might not be conscious of a Scottish Authorities scheme which helps present monetary help price a median of £1,810 in the direction of the prices of a cherished one's funeral. The Funeral Help Cost can be utilized to assist pay for the burial or cremation of a child, youngster or grownup in Scotland, and likewise contains infants who had been stillborn.
The most recent figures from Social Safety Scotland present that because the scheme launched in September 2019, some 21,375 functions have been obtained. Greater than £25.5 million has been issued since 2019 to these eligible for monetary help, with a median cost of £1,810.
Social Safety Scotland goals to decide on claims for the help inside 10 days of receiving all of the proof they want. Nevertheless, it additionally mentioned that this may take their specifically educated group barely longer when demand is larger.
You possibly can apply for the cost up till six months after the date of the funeral, however if you happen to couldn't make a declare for the Funeral Help Cost because of the disruption brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Social Safety Scotland will nonetheless settle for your utility.
In the event you've obtained a backdated qualifying profit you may additionally have longer to use - name Social Safety Scotland on 0800 182 2222 for extra info.
Beneath are all the small print on the scheme together with eligibility and find out how to apply.
Who can apply for a Funeral Help Cost?
You possibly can declare for a Funeral Help Cost if the entire following apply:
you reside in Scotland
you or your accomplice are getting sure advantages or tax credit
the one that died lived within the UK
the funeral is being held within the UK or in some circumstances within the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
you might be making use of after the particular person has died, till six months after the date of their funeral
you or your accomplice are liable for the funeral
it's cheap for you or your accomplice to simply accept accountability for the funeral prices
Steerage on mygov.scot states: "Normally, it's cheap for the closest relative of the one that died to simply accept accountability for the funeral prices.
"A nearest relative may very well be a accomplice, youngster, father or mother or sibling. In the event you or your accomplice aren't the closest relative, you will want to elucidate to us [Social Security Scotland] while you apply, why it is cheap to have accepted accountability."
Advantages and Tax Credit you or your accomplice should obtain to qualify
You or your accomplice should get a number of of the next:
Baby Tax Credit score
Common Credit score
Revenue Help
Pension Credit score
Working Tax Credit score (incapacity or extreme incapacity ingredient)
Housing Profit
Revenue-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), not contribution-based JSA
Revenue-related Employment and Help Allowance (ESA), not contribution-based ESA
The steering provides: "In the event you or your accomplice are ready to listen to about your utility for considered one of these advantages, you'll be able to nonetheless apply for Funeral Help Cost. Nevertheless, we'll solely be capable of let you recognize if you happen to're capable of get Funeral Help Cost as soon as we all know the end result of your different profit functions."
How you can apply
Earlier than making use of for Funeral Help Cost, you need to:
register the loss of life of the one that died
test that you simply're eligible for Funeral Help Cost
think about giving your funeral director consent to talk with Social Safety Scotland about your utility
To finish this way, you'll need:
your Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity
particulars of the funeral director
any journey receipts or funeral payments you've got thus far
your checking account particulars, if you would like Social Safety Scotland to pay you and never your funeral director
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To search out out extra, or to use on-line, go to the devoted part on mygov.scot web site right here or name Social Safety Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
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