Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a crisis funeral loan to (a) support grieving families and (b) provide confidence to funeral homes that their costs will be met in the context of the covid-19 pandemic.

The DWP Funeral Expenses Payments (FEP) scheme provides an important contribution towards the cost of a funeral arranged by someone who is in receipt of certain income based benefits including Universal Credit.

The scheme meets the necessary costs of a burial or cremation in full and in April 2020 the additional element that can help with the costs of a coffin or the services of a funeral director, was increased from £700 to £1000.