Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people who are unable to afford a low-cost funeral; and what steps his Department is taking to assist such people with funeral costs.

The Government does not collect data on total numbers of people unable to afford a low-cost funeral.

The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment scheme provides help towards funeral costs. In 2013/14 over 33,000 awards were made to people in Great Britain. These payments were worth £44.7 million with an average award of £1,347. Social Fund Budgeting Loans are also available to help those on income related benefits to cover the costs relating to funeral expenses.