Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who are unable to afford a simple, respectful low-cost funeral due to the declining value in real terms year-on-year of Social Fund funeral payments.

My department does not collect data to monitor the types of funerals people choose.

We are conscious of the rise in burial and cremation fees which is why the Social Fund Funeral Expenses scheme covers in full specified necessary costs, such as the necessary costs of buying a new burial plot for the deceased or the cost of any necessary doctor’s certificates for example; plus a significant contribution towards other costs of up to £700. As such, the Government has protected these payments.

The Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme continues to provide help towards a funeral and is not intended to meet all costs that could be associated with the day. The overall average award for 2003/4 was £1019 and in 2013/14 it was £1347. Because we still pay in full the necessary costs the average award is now 32% higher.