Fund to help families cover cost of funeral following death of a child

By Q Radio News

A new fund to help families in Northern Ireland cover the cost of a funeral following the death of a child will be available from June.

The Child Funeral Fund will offer a one-off payment of £3,056 after the death of a child under 18 or in the event of a still birth after 24 weeks.

The fund is not means-tested and will be available to all families regardless of their financial situation.

The Department of Communities, which is responsible for the fund, has said the application process for the money is still being finalised but it would ensure access would be made "as simple as possible".

Similar schemes already exist elsewhere in the UK.

A payment scheme towards funeral costs was introduced in Wales last year

A burial fund was also introduced in England in 2018 and fees for the burial or cremation of a child in Scotland were abolished in the same year.

In Northern Ireland, some councils have already chosen to waive burial costs for children.

Announcing the new fund, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said the money would support families at a time of "devastation and sadness and help ease the financial pressures that can come with the death of a child":