Financial help for parents who've suffered the loss of a child under 18
Changes to government funding and support mean that no parent in the UK will be forced to face the worry of finding the money or taking on debt to pay for the funeral of their child.
The Children's Funeral Fund has been established to support families in England, joining financial support schemes already put in place by the Welsh and Scottish Governments under their devolved powers. The move means that, as of July 2019, if you live in England, Wales or Scotland, your local authority won't charge you fees for a standard burial or cremation of a child under the age of 18.
* The majority of councils in Northern Ireland waive funeral fees for children.
The Children's Funeral Fund came into force as the result of a two-year public campaign supported by the CLIC Sargent cancer charity and led by Carolyn Harris MP, who lost her own son when he was just eight years old and struggled herself to pay funeral costs. In support of the Swansea MP, the Welsh government announced they'd scrap children's funeral fees In March 2017. The Scottish Government followed suit in May 2018.
Every year in England an estimated 3,800 children under the age of 18 die, with a further 2,700 stillbirths. Typical burial and cremation fees for children could range from around £500 to £1,000, but in some cases were as high as £1,500. The financial support now available covers burial and cremation fees and some associated costs, removing cremation or burial costs for children at the point of need.
Burial and cremation authorities apply to the government for the reimbursement of the fees which would have otherwise have been charged.
Support isn't means tested and is available to all parents regardless of their nationality for funerals that take place in England. Although associated costs, such as funeral director fees, flowers and a memorial still need to be paid, in England, there is also a £300 contribution towards the price of a coffin, casket or shroud. This can be reclaimed directly by the funeral director.
The only conditions for the scheme are that the child is under 18 at the time of death or is stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy, and that the burial or cremation takes place in England.
Funeral director fees
Although individual funeral directors operate their own policy with regard to child funerals, the Child Funeral Charity says, "many funeral directors, the clergy and most celebrants don't charge fees" for a child's funeral. Contact your local funeral director to find out more about their policy.
The Child Funeral Charity continues to fund elements of the funeral that are not covered by government support, such as flowers, orders of ceremony and memorials. You can apply for their help using the CFC Application Form on the Child Funeral Charity website.