Children’s Funeral Fund now available for bereaved families in need
Parents who have lost a child are going through the most unimaginable grief and, in the past, many will have had to struggle financially to ensure that their child had a dignified burial or cremation. On 23 July 2019 a new government fund will come into effect, meaning that no parent will have to pay for the burial or cremation of their child.
The Children’s Funeral Fund has been made possible by the 28 year campaigning by MP Carolyn Harris who sadly lost her own son, Martin, in a car accident and subsequently had to take out a loan to be able to pay for his funeral.
We wrote about the history of the Fund and how it came to be implemented after it was announced in March 2018.
Who will the new fund help?
The new fund will help any parent who has lost a child under the age of 18 or a child who has been stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy. The new fund is available to all parents, no matter what their level of income.
How does the Children’s Funeral Fund work?
Where families have used a funeral director, the funeral director will be able to apply to the government to be reimbursed for the cost of providing burial or cremation services. There are additional expenses that can also be claimed including up to £300 toward the cost of a coffin.
If a family has not used a funeral director and makes the arrangements themselves, then they can claim the reimbursement directly from the government.
I’ve lost a child, how can I access this fund?
Firstly, we are so sorry to hear that you have a lost a child. You can access the fund through the government’s website here.
You may also find our bereavement resources helpful at this difficult time or you may want to be in touch with some other organisations that can provide support at this difficult time. You can also contact us directly on 0800 027 7324 should you have any questions or would like guidance in taking the practical steps after someone has died.