Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February to Question 64628, what assessment the Government has made of whether the current Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme is sufficient to prevent funeral poverty among bereaved parents; and how the level of support given to such parents is decided.

Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments provide help towards the cost of arranging a funeral, including the funeral of a child, for people claiming eligible benefits. They make a significant contribution to the costs of a simple funeral. The amount that an applicant will receive will vary depending on the type of funeral chosen.

Funeral Expenses Payments cover reasonable costs for the following:

• burial fees and exclusive rights to burial in a particular plot,
• cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor’s certificate,
• one return journey to arrange or attend the funeral,
• the costs of moving the body within the UK for any part of the journey that is over 50 miles.

In addition, Funeral Expenses Payments can provide up to £700 as a contribution to other funeral expenses.

Details of specific payments and conditions of entitlement can be found in Chapter 39 of the Decision Makers Guide: Social Fund Payments at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/572416/dmgch39.pdf.