Introduction to entitlement for Funeral Support Payment

When an application for Funeral Support Payment meets the eligibility criteria the next step is to investigate the entitlement.

Funeral Support Payment entitlement is made up of:

• burial, cremation or alkaline hydrolysis fees
• flat rate
• funeral travel costs for the applicant (in some cases)
• funeral travel costs to transport the body (in some cases)
• funeral documentation costs (in some cases)
• removal of medical device costs (in some cases)

After all these are taken into account we need to deduct any funds that are available to be used. No deduction is made when the person who died was under the age of 18.

If the person who died had a funeral plan that covers the cost of the burial, cremation or alkaline hydrolysis fees, these are not included in the calculation of the entitlement. This is because Funeral Support Payment is a contribution towards the funeral costs the applicant, or their partner, is responsible for.

When all of this is considered this gives us the entitlement (award amount).