Bereaved parents don’t have to pay cost of their child’s burial or cremation after the Children’s Fund for England was opened on 23rd July, 2019. Through the fund, funeral providers are able to directly claim burial or cremation cost, and the contribution towards the cost of a coffin. With the fund parents do not have to worry about managing the burial or cremation expenses. Parents can also claim directly from the fund if they choose not to use a funeral director. The launch of the fund came after a commitment by former Prime Minister Theresa May to help ease the financial burden for grieving parents, and was endorsed by a cross-party campaign led by Carolyne Harris after the tragic death of her eight-year-old son. The fund is available regardless of a family’s income, and covers costs for children under 18 and stillbirths after the 24th week of pregnancy.
The loss of a child is a tragedy which no parent prepares for. There is nothing can ever take away the pain that bereaved family’s experience, but the government was and still is determined to do everything in their power to ease the burden on the bereaved families which is why the Children’s Funeral Fund was introduced. The Children’s Funeral Funds provides the bereaved parents with much needed help and support. Where the body is not available for burial or cremation Children’s Funeral Fund is available for the fees charged for the permission to erect a memorial. If the body is recovered after the initial claim has been determined, a further claim may be made for the fees charged by burial authority and/or cremation authority.
The responsible person who wishes to make a claim may use the digital service to acquire the form or alternatively they may request the form from the Fund by calling or emailing them. To submit a claim, the claimant should complete the form and return it the contact centre with all required information as instructed. All claims and supporting documentation are subject to scrutiny to ensure the claimant is eligible.
