Asked by: Baroness Gardner of Parkes (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the maximum payment that can currently be made under the Funeral Payment scheme.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme comprises of two elements. The first element covers the ‘necessary’ costs of arranging a funeral, which include costs of a burial or cremation including the purchase of a grave. It also meets the cost of any medical references or the removal of active implanted medical devices for cremations, reasonable costs if a body has to be moved for more than fifty miles and travel costs for the applicant to arrange and attend the funeral. These costs are paid in full and there is no maximum contribution.
The second element covers all other costs, which are subject to a maximum of £700. We have no plans at this time to review this component of the scheme.