Government Help with Funeral Costs: What Programs Exist and How to Apply

The government does not pay for funerals outright. In the US, the help that exists is small or narrow: a one-time $255 Social Security payment, VA burial benefits for eligible veterans, FEMA aid after a declared disaster, and state or county assistance that varies by place and usually targets people with very low incomes. Even when a family qualifies, these programs usually cover only part of the bill.

What government funeral help is there in the US?

Here are the main programs at a glance. Each one is explained below.

The Social Security $255 death payment

The Social Security lump-sum death payment is $255, and the amount is set in federal regulations. It is paid only if the person who died had worked long enough to be fully or currently insured. It goes first to a surviving spouse who was living in the same household at the time of death. If there is no eligible spouse, it can go to children who qualify for benefits on the record, such as minor children, certain students up to age 19, or an adult child who became disabled before 22. Social Security decides who counts.

You generally must apply within 2 years of the death, and you can start by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213. If you were already getting spouse's benefits on that record the month before, you don't need to apply. Our guide to the Social Security death benefit covers the details and other survivor benefits that may be worth more than this payment.

VA burial benefits for veterans

If the person was a veteran whose discharge was not dishonorable, and met the VA's service requirements, the family may qualify for two separate things. Confirm eligibility with the VA.

• A national cemetery burial at no cost. The VA provides a gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone, marker or medallion, and a burial flag. Spouses and eligible dependents can be buried with the veteran. Funeral home items such as embalming, a casket or cremation are the family's expense. To schedule, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.
• A burial allowance. This is a payment toward burial and funeral costs, and a spouse, child, parent, executor or funeral home representative can claim it. The rate depends on the date of death. For a non-service-connected death, the VA lists $1,002 each for the burial and plot allowances for deaths from October 1, 2025, and $1,032 each for deaths on or after October 1, 2026. The plot allowance applies only in certain cases, such as burial outside a national cemetery. For a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the maximum is $2,000 (it is $1,500 for earlier deaths). You claim with VA Form 21P-530EZ. Non-service-connected claims must generally be filed within 2 years of burial, while service-connected claims have no time limit.

Check the VA burial allowance page for the rate that applies to the date of death. Our guides to the VA burial allowance and veterans burial benefits walk through eligibility and claims.

Does FEMA help with funeral costs?

Not for COVID-19 any more. FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance reimbursed up to $9,000, but the deadline to apply was September 30, 2025, and the program is closed.

FEMA still has a separate route after disasters. When the president declares a major disaster, FEMA's Other Needs Assistance can include funeral services, burial or cremation, and related funeral expenses for a death caused by that disaster. You apply through the disaster assistance process for that specific event, so start at DisasterAssistance.gov or FEMA's helpline for the event, and ask what proof of the death and the costs you need.

State, county and local help

This is the most variable part, and it is where many families with low incomes find help. The Funeral Consumers Alliance says many states provide burial assistance to people who were receiving government support, such as Medicaid or SSI, when they died. It suggests contacting your local Department of Social Services and asking whether state or local burial funds exist. It also notes that funeral homes often know about these funds, although they don't usually advertise them, and that in some states the funeral home must request the payment.

If no one can pay at all, counties generally have a process for disposing of the body, often called an indigent or public burial. It is basic, usually cremation, and the family may have no say over timing or whether the ashes are released. If that may apply, read what to do if no one can afford a funeral and how Medicaid fits in before you sign anything.

Crime victim compensation

If the death resulted from a crime, your state's crime victim compensation program may help. The National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards says families should apply in the state where the crime occurred, and its program directory links to each state's program. What each state covers, and any deadline, is set by that state, so check the program's own rules.

How to ask for help, step by step

1. Get several copies of the death certificate. Many programs ask for one. The documents checklist shows what else to gather.
2. Collect an itemized bill or contract, not just a total, along with proof of your relationship to the person who died.
3. Call the agencies that fit: Social Security, the VA, your county social services office, and the state victim compensation program if a crime was involved.
4. Ask the funeral home what local assistance it has seen families use.
5. Keep every receipt and write down who you spoke to and when.

Is there government help with funeral costs in the UK?

Yes, and it is more structured. In England and Wales, the Funeral Expenses Payment is for people who arrange a funeral and who, or whose partner, get a qualifying benefit: Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or a Support for Mortgage Interest loan. It helps with burial or cremation fees, some travel and document costs, plus up to £1,000 towards other costs such as the funeral director, coffin or flowers. It usually won't cover the whole bill.

You must claim within 6 months of the funeral, even if you are still waiting on a decision about a qualifying benefit. Phone the Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012 or post form SF200. Any payment is deducted from money you receive from the estate of the person who died.

Scotland has its own Funeral Support Payment, and Northern Ireland has a separate claim route. Our guides to Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility and UK funeral financial help cover them.

How to lower the bill if help falls short

Government help rarely covers a whole funeral, so the choices you make matter as much as any benefit.

• Use your price rights. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must give you prices by phone, give you a General Price List to keep, let you buy items separately, and accept a casket or urn bought elsewhere. Our FTC Funeral Rule guide explains each right.
• Consider direct cremation. It skips embalming, a viewing and an expensive casket, and you can hold a memorial later. See direct cremation costs and other low-cost funeral options.
• Check for money you may not have thought of, such as life insurance that pays for a funeral, and whether the estate can cover costs.
• Consider crowdfunding. It is not a government program, but it can fill a gap. See crowdfunding funeral tips.

What to do next

1. Work out which programs fit: veteran status, a disaster, a crime, or low income and benefits.
2. Ask before you sign. Call the agency, then the funeral home, and request itemized prices.
3. Apply within each program's deadline and keep copies.
4. If you are unsure about the estate, tax or who is legally responsible for the bill, a probate attorney or your local legal aid office can explain how it works in your state.