Children's Funeral Fund in England: who qualifies and how to claim

England has government support for families who lose a child — the Children's Funeral Fund for England. It covers the main costs of a child's funeral so a family does not have to think about money at the hardest of times. Here is who qualifies and how to use it.

Who qualifies

The fund covers costs when a child under 18 dies, or a baby is stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy. Help does not depend on the family's income or savings — it is not means-tested. The one condition on place: the burial or cremation must take place in England (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes).

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What the fund pays for

It covers burial fees, cremation fees (including the cost of a doctor's certificate), and a coffin, shroud or casket up to £300. For other funeral expenses you may separately apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment, but that is only available to people receiving certain benefits.

How to claim — with a funeral director

If you use a funeral director, you do not need to submit anything. The burial or cremation provider claims those fees directly and should not charge you. Other costs, such as the coffin, are claimed by the funeral director and paid directly to them.

How to claim — without a funeral director

If you arrange the funeral yourself, the burial or cremation provider still claims those fees. Other costs, such as the coffin, you claim yourself through the government's online form on the service site (claim-for-costs-of-a-childs-funeral.form.service.justice.gov.uk). Either way the claim must be made within 6 months of the funeral.

How much exactly is covered

There is no upper limit on the burial or cremation fees themselves — the fund covers them in full; the £300 cap applies only to a coffin, shroud or casket. Online claims are handled by the government's justice service. Do not leave it too late: the entitlement runs for six months from the date of the funeral, and a claim will not be accepted after that.

Where to get support

A funeral home can explain the scheme and the deadlines, and the general steps after a loss are gathered on the official "what to do after someone dies" page. Charities also support bereaved families. If the family receives certain benefits, it is also worth checking eligibility for a Funeral Expenses Payment, which can cover some other costs too. ONLYWAY NEWS notes that the fund's help does not depend on income, and any family in England is entitled to ask for it.