From 1st of April help to meet the costs of funeral arrangements is to be increased from £700 to £1,000 in Scotland.

It is estimated that this will help 5,000 Scots who struggle with the costs of funerals at a time when they need support.

The Funeral Support Payment helps pay for :

funeral costs if you live in Scotland. You can use the payment towards funeral costs for a baby, child or adult. This includes babies who were stillborn.

You can find out more about it here including how to apply: Funeral Support Payment

Helpful information here: Frequently asked questions for bereaved people in Scotland

Announcing the increase Social Security Secretary in the Scottish Government Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“At a time when families are struggling to come to terms with the death of a loved one, the last thing they need is extra financial stress.

“I am proud we are increasing the standard rate by 40% to £1,000 to support those paying for a funeral just months after introducing this important new payment.

“This increase, alongside the extended eligibility we have introduced, means the Funeral Support Payment is there to ease the pressures on up to 5,000 people annually at such a difficult time in their lives. So far the total average pay-out has been around £1,500.

“This benefit is part of the new Social Security system we are building from scratch for the Scottish people, with fairness, dignity and respect at its heart.”