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1005853
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date remove maximum value filtermore like thismore than 2018-11-12
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's policy is on supporting benefit claimants who must pay for the funeral of a family member; and if her Department will introduce an allowance for benefit claimants who must pay for the funeral of a family member to ensure that their benefit claims are not adversely affected. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Motherwell and Wishaw more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Marion Fellows more like this
star this property uin 190493 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-11-15more like thismore than 2018-11-15
star this property answer text <p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment scheme makes a contribution towards the cost of a funeral for people in receipt of certain income related benefits and tax credits. To qualify, the applicant must be accepted as responsible for arranging the funeral, they (or their partner) must receive one of the qualifying benefits and they must be the partner or a close relative or close friend of the deceased.</p><p> </p><p>The amount payable depends on whether there is any other money available, for example from the deceased’s estate. As the Payment is linked to the deceased’s assets, it does not adversely affect the applicant’s savings.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme offers support by meeting the ‘necessary costs’ of a cremation or burial, including acquiring a burial plot. An allowance of up to £700 is also available to meet other funeral costs such as a coffin, religious venue and funeral director fees.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
star this property answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-11-15T09:55:33.86Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-15T09:55:33.86Z
unstar this property answering member
4105
star this property label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property tabling member
4440
unstar this property label Biography information for Marion Fellows more like this
938459
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-07-11more like thismore than 2018-07-11
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to review the adequacy of the element of the Funeral Expenses Payment that is used to pay funeral directors, coffins and flowers to cover those costs. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Chesterfield more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Toby Perkins more like this
star this property uin 163065 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-07-19more like thismore than 2018-07-19
star this property answer text <p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments provides a significant contribution towards funeral costs, covering burials, cremations and £700 towards coffins, flowers and other costs. It continues to meet the necessary costs of a cremation or burial for claimants on certain income based benefits or tax credits. Average payments have increased year-on-year to meet these necessary costs, by some 28% over the past ten years.</p><p> </p><p>We have also made interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans available for funeral costs in addition to Funeral Expenses Payments. Whilst we are keeping the level of funeral expenses payments under review, we do need to ensure that we have a system that is both fair for taxpayers, while assisting the most vulnerable with funeral expenses.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
star this property answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-07-19T14:44:52.437Zmore like thismore than 2018-07-19T14:44:52.437Z
unstar this property answering member
4105
star this property label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property tabling member
3952
unstar this property label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins more like this
937886
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-07-10more like thismore than 2018-07-10
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average Funeral Expenses Payment was in each year since 2003. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Chesterfield more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Toby Perkins more like this
star this property uin 162526 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-07-18more like thismore than 2018-07-18
star this property answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions does not produce estimates for the average cost of a funeral.</p><p> </p><p>The average Funeral Expenses Payment (FEP) made in each year is published in the Social Fund Annual Report. Table 1 below provides the average FEP made in each year since 2003/04. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: Average FEP award, 2003/04 – 2017/18</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Average FEP award</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2003/04</p></td><td><p>£1,019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004/05</p></td><td><p>£1,051</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005/06</p></td><td><p>£1,081</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006/07</p></td><td><p>£1,117</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007/08</p></td><td><p>£1,162</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008/09</p></td><td><p>£1,194</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>£1,208</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>£1,217</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>£1,241</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>£1,225</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>£1,347</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>£1,375</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>£1,410</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>£1,427</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>£1,461</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Social Fund Annual Reports 2003/04 – 2016/17, Social Fund Policy Budget and Management Information System</p><p> </p><p>Notes</p><p> </p><ol><li>The figure for 2017/18 is drawn from the Social Fund Policy Budget and Management Information System as the Social Fund Annual Report 2017/18 is not yet published.</li><li>The average award is the average payment net of returned payments (including appeals). This is calculated by taking the total value of payments in a given year (net of returned payments) and dividing by the total number of payments in a given year, as recorded in the Policy, Budget and Management Information System.</li><li>These averages include awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.</li></ol>
star this property answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
star this property answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property grouped question UIN 162525 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-07-18T12:32:53.97Zmore like thismore than 2018-07-18T12:32:53.97Z
unstar this property answering member
4105
star this property label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property tabling member
3952
unstar this property label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins more like this
937548
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-07-09more like thismore than 2018-07-09
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the interest rate charge is for funeral expenses payments. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Ellesmere Port and Neston more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Justin Madders more like this
star this property uin 162086 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-07-17more like thismore than 2018-07-17
star this property answer text <p>We make low-cost funeral expense payments to people who receive (or whose partners receive) a qualifying benefit or Tax Credit. These are recoverable from the estate of the deceased and where there aren’t enough assets available in the estate it is written off.</p><p> </p><p>DWP’s Annual Report and Accounts 2017-2018 contains information on losses associated with the social fund at page 159, which can be found here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/721224/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-2018.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/721224/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-2018.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>There were 663k (gross) of Funeral Expense Payments outstanding as at 31 March 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions has the discretion to apply interest at 1.5% above the Bank of England Base Rate when recovering an outstanding Funeral Payment from an estate.</p><p> </p><p>Interest would be charged on any balance outstanding at the end of each calendar year.</p>
star this property answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
star this property answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property grouped question UIN 162087 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-07-17T16:45:38.53Zmore like thismore than 2018-07-17T16:45:38.53Z
unstar this property answering member
4105
star this property label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property tabling member
4418
unstar this property label Biography information for Justin Madders more like this
937549
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-07-09more like thismore than 2018-07-09
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the amount of money owed to the public purse from funeral expenses payments. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Ellesmere Port and Neston more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Justin Madders more like this
star this property uin 162087 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-07-17more like thismore than 2018-07-17
star this property answer text <p>We make low-cost funeral expense payments to people who receive (or whose partners receive) a qualifying benefit or Tax Credit. These are recoverable from the estate of the deceased and where there aren’t enough assets available in the estate it is written off.</p><p> </p><p>DWP’s Annual Report and Accounts 2017-2018 contains information on losses associated with the social fund at page 159, which can be found here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/721224/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-2018.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/721224/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-2018.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>There were 663k (gross) of Funeral Expense Payments outstanding as at 31 March 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions has the discretion to apply interest at 1.5% above the Bank of England Base Rate when recovering an outstanding Funeral Payment from an estate.</p><p> </p><p>Interest would be charged on any balance outstanding at the end of each calendar year.</p>
star this property answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
star this property answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property grouped question UIN 162086 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-07-17T16:45:38.577Zmore like thismore than 2018-07-17T16:45:38.577Z
unstar this property answering member
4105
star this property label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property tabling member
4418
unstar this property label Biography information for Justin Madders more like this
931803
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-06-27more like thismore than 2018-06-27
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Funeral Expenses Payment claims there have been in each year since 2005. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Rutherglen and Hamilton West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ged Killen more like this
star this property uin 158357 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-07-02more like thismore than 2018-07-02
star this property answer text <p>Data on the amount claimed for Funeral Expenses Payments (FEPs) is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The number of FEP applications received by the DWP and awards as a proportion of FEP applications processed, in each calendar year since 2005, are given below in table 1. They are rounded to the nearest 0.1%. Figures are not given for 2018 as the calendar year is incomplete.</p><p> </p><p>Due to the timing of application processing, figures on awards may relate to applications processed in the previous year.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: FEP applications received and proportion of FEP applications resulting in an award, Great Britain 2005 - 2017</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Applications received (000s)</p></td><td><p>Awards as a proportion of applications processed</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>68.5</p></td><td><p>62.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>67.7</p></td><td><p>61.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>63.8</p></td><td><p>61.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>67.5</p></td><td><p>59.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>68.9</p></td><td><p>58.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>66.8</p></td><td><p>56.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>71</p></td><td><p>54.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>66.4</p></td><td><p>54.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>62.2</p></td><td><p>56.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>52.5</p></td><td><p>59.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>46.6</p></td><td><p>62.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>44.3</p></td><td><p>60.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>41.8</p></td><td><p>61.7%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Social Fund Policy, Budget, and Management Information System</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>These figures do not include applications that were processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.</li><li>Figures on applications received differ from the number of applications processed by the DWP. Some applications may have been withdrawn before a decision was made.</li><li>The number of applications made in each year is not equal to the number of people who made applications in that year. An individual may make multiple applications in a given time period.</li><li>The proportion of FEP claims resulting in an award is calculated by dividing the number of awards in a given year by the number of applications processed by the DWP in a given year. The number of awards used in this calculation includes awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p>
star this property answering member constituency North West Hampshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property grouped question UIN
158358 more like this
158359 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-07-02T16:44:29.897Zmore like thismore than 2018-07-02T16:44:29.897Z
unstar this property answering member
4495
star this property label Biography information for Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property tabling member
4672
unstar this property label Biography information for Ged Killen more like this
931804
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-06-27more like thismore than 2018-06-27
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the average amount claimed for each funeral expenses payment in each year since 2005. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Rutherglen and Hamilton West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ged Killen more like this
star this property uin 158358 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-07-02more like thismore than 2018-07-02
star this property answer text <p>Data on the amount claimed for Funeral Expenses Payments (FEPs) is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The number of FEP applications received by the DWP and awards as a proportion of FEP applications processed, in each calendar year since 2005, are given below in table 1. They are rounded to the nearest 0.1%. Figures are not given for 2018 as the calendar year is incomplete.</p><p> </p><p>Due to the timing of application processing, figures on awards may relate to applications processed in the previous year.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: FEP applications received and proportion of FEP applications resulting in an award, Great Britain 2005 - 2017</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Applications received (000s)</p></td><td><p>Awards as a proportion of applications processed</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>68.5</p></td><td><p>62.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>67.7</p></td><td><p>61.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>63.8</p></td><td><p>61.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>67.5</p></td><td><p>59.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>68.9</p></td><td><p>58.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>66.8</p></td><td><p>56.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>71</p></td><td><p>54.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>66.4</p></td><td><p>54.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>62.2</p></td><td><p>56.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>52.5</p></td><td><p>59.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>46.6</p></td><td><p>62.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>44.3</p></td><td><p>60.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>41.8</p></td><td><p>61.7%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Social Fund Policy, Budget, and Management Information System</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>These figures do not include applications that were processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.</li><li>Figures on applications received differ from the number of applications processed by the DWP. Some applications may have been withdrawn before a decision was made.</li><li>The number of applications made in each year is not equal to the number of people who made applications in that year. An individual may make multiple applications in a given time period.</li><li>The proportion of FEP claims resulting in an award is calculated by dividing the number of awards in a given year by the number of applications processed by the DWP in a given year. The number of awards used in this calculation includes awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p>
star this property answering member constituency North West Hampshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property grouped question UIN
158357 more like this
158359 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-07-02T16:44:29.96Zmore like thismore than 2018-07-02T16:44:29.96Z
unstar this property answering member
4495
star this property label Biography information for Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property tabling member
4672
unstar this property label Biography information for Ged Killen more like this
931805
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-06-27more like thismore than 2018-06-27
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of funeral expenses payment claims were successful in each year since 2005. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Rutherglen and Hamilton West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ged Killen more like this
star this property uin 158359 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-07-02more like thismore than 2018-07-02
star this property answer text <p>Data on the amount claimed for Funeral Expenses Payments (FEPs) is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The number of FEP applications received by the DWP and awards as a proportion of FEP applications processed, in each calendar year since 2005, are given below in table 1. They are rounded to the nearest 0.1%. Figures are not given for 2018 as the calendar year is incomplete.</p><p> </p><p>Due to the timing of application processing, figures on awards may relate to applications processed in the previous year.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: FEP applications received and proportion of FEP applications resulting in an award, Great Britain 2005 - 2017</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Applications received (000s)</p></td><td><p>Awards as a proportion of applications processed</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>68.5</p></td><td><p>62.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>67.7</p></td><td><p>61.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>63.8</p></td><td><p>61.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>67.5</p></td><td><p>59.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>68.9</p></td><td><p>58.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>66.8</p></td><td><p>56.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>71</p></td><td><p>54.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>66.4</p></td><td><p>54.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>62.2</p></td><td><p>56.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>52.5</p></td><td><p>59.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>46.6</p></td><td><p>62.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>44.3</p></td><td><p>60.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>41.8</p></td><td><p>61.7%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Social Fund Policy, Budget, and Management Information System</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>These figures do not include applications that were processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.</li><li>Figures on applications received differ from the number of applications processed by the DWP. Some applications may have been withdrawn before a decision was made.</li><li>The number of applications made in each year is not equal to the number of people who made applications in that year. An individual may make multiple applications in a given time period.</li><li>The proportion of FEP claims resulting in an award is calculated by dividing the number of awards in a given year by the number of applications processed by the DWP in a given year. The number of awards used in this calculation includes awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p>
star this property answering member constituency North West Hampshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property grouped question UIN
158357 more like this
158358 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-07-02T16:44:30.037Zmore like thismore than 2018-07-02T16:44:30.037Z
unstar this property answering member
4495
star this property label Biography information for Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property tabling member
4672
unstar this property label Biography information for Ged Killen more like this
931589
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-06-26more like thismore than 2018-06-26
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the funeral expenses payment in covering average funeral costs. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Rutherglen and Hamilton West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ged Killen more like this
star this property uin 157864 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-07-02more like thismore than 2018-07-02
star this property answer text <p>The Department has not carried out such an assessment. Funeral costs vary by circumstance, and the Funeral Expenses Payments scheme continues to make a significant contribution towards the cost of a simple funeral for claimants on certain income based benefits or tax credits.</p><p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment scheme meets the necessary costs of a cremation or burial for eligible claimants, with the average Funeral Expenses Payment increasing year-on-year to meet the necessary costs. We also provide up to £700 for other costs. In 2016/17, my department made approximately 27,000 Funeral Expenses Payments, costing around £38.6 million.</p><p>In addition to Funeral Expenses Payments, my department provides interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans to help meet additional funeral costs for eligible claimants.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency North West Hampshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-07-02T16:37:58.217Zmore like thismore than 2018-07-02T16:37:58.217Z
unstar this property answering member
4495
star this property label Biography information for Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property tabling member
4672
unstar this property label Biography information for Ged Killen more like this
897242
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-05-03more like thismore than 2018-05-03
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for Social Fund funeral payments were made in each year between 2015 and 2018; how many such applications were refused; and what the (a) average and (b) lowest payment that was made. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency South Shields more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck more like this
star this property uin 141028 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-05-14more like thismore than 2018-05-14
star this property answer text <p>As the calendar year 2018 is incomplete at the time of response, figures for 2018 are not included in the tables below.</p><p> </p><p>Table 1 provides the number of Funeral Expenses Payments (FEP) applications received and the number of initial refusals in each year between 2015 and 2017.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Table 1: FEP applications received and initial refusals, 2015-2017</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>2017</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Applications received</p></td><td><p>46,600</p></td><td><p>44,300</p></td><td><p>41,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Initial refusals</p></td><td><p>20,800</p></td><td><p>19,400</p></td><td><p>16,900</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Policy, Budget and Management Information System</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes to table 1: </strong></p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.</p></li><li><p>Due to the timing of application processing, figures on initial refusals may relate to applications received in the previous year.</p></li><li><p>These figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.</p></li><li><p>Figures on applications made are based on applications received by DWP, not applications processed. Some applications may have been withdrawn before a decision was made.</p></li><li><p>The number of applications made in each year is not equal to the number of people who made applications in that year. An individual may make multiple applications in a given time period.</p></li><li><p>The number of initial refusals gives the number of initially unsuccessful applications and not those that are unsuccessful after appeal. An application will only be unsuccessful if it does not meet the qualifying criteria. These include, amongst other criteria, being in receipt of relevant benefits and meeting rules regarding relationship with the deceased. The full qualifying criteria are outlined in section 7 of “The Social Fund: Technical Guidance” publication. (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-social-fund-technical-guidance/the-social-fund-technical-guidance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-social-fund-technical-guidance/the-social-fund-technical-guidance</a>)</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Table 2 provides the average FEP award in each year 2015-2017.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 2: Average FEP award, 2015-2017</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>2017</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Average award</p></td><td><p>£1,390</p></td><td><p>£1,420</p></td><td><p>£1,450</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Policy, Budget and Management Information System</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes to table 2:</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li><p>Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.</p></li><li><p>The average award figures relate to the average payment net of returned payments (including appeals). This is calculated by taking the total value of payments in a given year (net of returned payments) and dividing by the total number of payments in a given year, as recorded in the Policy, Budget and Management Information System.</p></li><li><p>These averages include awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.</p></li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Data on the lowest FEP award in the years 2015-2018 is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p>
star this property answering member constituency North West Hampshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-05-14T16:37:11.78Zmore like thismore than 2018-05-14T16:37:11.78Z
unstar this property answering member
4495
star this property label Biography information for Kit Malthouse more like this
star this property tabling member
4277
unstar this property label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck more like this