Change to phone line to claim funeral expenses payments

I have had the following information through from the DWP stakeholder forum -

From the 7 December, customers who call the Social Fund line for Funeral Expense Payments (FEP) and then select Option 2 will no longer be redirected.

They will hear a message advising them that it is not possible to connect the call and to dial the Bereavement Service line on 0800 151 2012.  This change is due to an increase in inappropriate calls to the FEP line but also to help our customers by directing them straight to the appropriate Bereavement Service.

Please cascade the information through your networks to increase awareness that to claim FEP customers need to call the Bereavement Service Line 0800 151 2012 not the Social Fund line.

If you live in Scotland you can apply for a Funeral Support Payment. It has replaced Funeral Expenses Payment in Scotland. Their number is 0800 182 2222