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788290

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2017
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the maximum payment that can currently be made under the Funeral Payment scheme.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Gardner of Parkes
	uin	HL3082
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>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.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 20/11/2017 15:56:52 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	3596 label Biography information for Baroness Gardner of Parkes

731090

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2017
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to match the ten-day target for the administration of Social Fund Funeral Payments pledged by the Scottish Government; and, if not, what plans they have to enable bereaved families to bury their relatives in the absence of any estate from which to draw funds to cover funeral costs.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Meacher
	uin	HL98
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2017 answer text <p>The Department has no plans to change its clearance standard of 15 working days for Funeral Expenses Payments. The Department provides Funeral Expenses Payments to people who are arranging a funeral and who are in receipt of a qualifying income-related benefit. They make a significant contribution towards the cost of arranging a funeral, and are paid as swiftly as possible when all the necessary evidence has been provided. In most cases, payments are made directly to the funeral director who arranged the funeral.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 28/06/2017 11:11:11 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	3810 label Biography information for Baroness Meacher

705718

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2017
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support the Government provides for families affected by funeral poverty after the death of a child.
	tabling member constituency	South Down
	tabling member printed	Ms Margaret Ritchie
	uin	65708
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2017 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions makes available Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments to people who are arranging a funeral, including the funeral of a child, and who are in receipt of a qualifying income-related benefit. Funeral Expenses Payments make a significant contribution towards the cost of arranging a funeral.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 06/03/2017 15:05:30 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1247044

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what effect the 2018 reforms to the Social Fund’s funeral expenses payments scheme have had on the processing times for payments under that scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Swansea East
	tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
	uin	109490
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2020 answer text <p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Amendment Regulations came into force in spring 2018. Whilst data is not collated on the specific effects of these reforms, data on processing times and the number of claims accepted can be found in The Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 which was published on GOV.UK on 4 November 2020.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 109491 question first answered 06/11/2020 11:49:17 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247046

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what effect the 2018 reforms to the Social Fund’s funeral expenses payments scheme have had on the number of claims (a) accepted and (b) rejected under that scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Swansea East
	tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
	uin	109491
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2020 answer text <p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Amendment Regulations came into force in spring 2018. Whilst data is not collated on the specific effects of these reforms, data on processing times and the number of claims accepted can be found in The Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 which was published on GOV.UK on 4 November 2020.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 109490 question first answered 06/11/2020 11:49:17 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247048

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the 2018 reforms to the Social Fund’s funeral expenses payments scheme, whether the changes to enable claimants to submit evidence electronically have been implemented in full.
	tabling member constituency	Swansea East
	tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
	uin	109492
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2020 answer text <p>Regulation 2 of The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Amendment Regulations 2018 allows for the electronic submission of evidence in connection with claims for social fund funeral payments. As a result, Funeral Directors are able to submit evidence electronically to support a claim for Funeral Expense Payments, and we continue to work on identifying a secure digital solution to extend this option to applicants.</p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 06/11/2020 11:53:04 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247052

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there was a backlog of applications for funeral expenses payments prior to the implementation of covid-19 lockdown restrictions on 23 March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Swansea East
	tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
	uin	109493
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>Prior to the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions on 23 March there was a backlog of Funeral Expense Payments (FEP) claims. In response to this and the COVID-19 outbreak, steps have been taken to significantly speed up the processing of Funeral Expense Payment claims in support of those who need it most.</p><p /><p /> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 17:46:57 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247057

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for funeral expenses payments were received in (a) 2019-20 and (b) the first six months of 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Swansea East
	tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
	uin	109497
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>The number of Funeral Expenses Payment applications received, in Great Britain, is reported annually in Appendix 1 of the Social Fund Annual Report:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018</a></p><p /><p>The information requested for 2019/20 will be published in due course, and so cannot be released ahead of publication.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In the period April 2020 - September 2020, there were approximately 23,900 applications received for Funeral Expenses Payments in Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>This figure is drawn from the Social Fund Policy, Budget, and Management Information System. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official / National statistics.</p><p>Notes</p><p>The figure is rounded to the nearest 100.</p><ul><li>The figure relates to applications received by DWP, not applications processed. Some applications may have been withdrawn before a decision was made.</li><li>The number of applications made is not equal to the number of people who made applications, as individuals may make multiple applications in a given time period.</li><li>Differences between any comparisons made of applications received, initial decisions, awards and initial refusals are due to applications being withdrawn; applicants rejecting or not responding to loan offers; and decisions outstanding at the time of the count.</li></ul> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 18:06:24 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247060

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many funeral expenses payment claims were accepted at initial decision in (a) 2019-20 and (b) the first six months of 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Swansea East
	tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
	uin	109498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>We do not publish the number of claims awarded, at initial decision, as requested. The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>However, a variant on the data requested is in the public domain. Applications that were initially unsuccessful may have resulted in an award after review, reconsideration or appeal. These cases are included in the final awards in the Social Fund Annual Report.</p><p /><p>The number of Funeral Expenses Payment awards, in Great Britain, is reported annually in Appendix 1 of the Social Fund Annual Report:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018</a></p><p /><p>The number of awards for 2019/20 will be published in due course, and so cannot be released ahead of publication.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 18:03:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247061

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many funeral expenses payments claims were rejected at initial decision in (a) 2019-20 and (b) the first six months of 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Swansea East
	tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
	uin	109499
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>The number of Funeral Expenses Payment applications refused at initial decision, in Great Britain, is reported annually in Appendix 1 of the Social Fund Annual Report:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018</a></p><p /><p>The information requested for 2019/20 will be published in due course, and so cannot be released ahead of publication.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In the period April 2020 - September 2020, there were approximately 8,500 applications refused, at initial decision, for Funeral Expenses Payments in Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>This figure is drawn from the Social Fund Policy, Budget, and Management Information System. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official / National statistics.</p><p>Notes</p><p>The figure is rounded to the nearest 100.</p><ul><li>Due to the timing of application processing, figures on initial refusals may relate to applications received in the previous year.</li><li>The number of initially unsuccessful applications is not equal to the number of people who unsuccessfully apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment, as individuals may make multiple applications in a given time period.</li><li>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>)</li><li>Differences between any comparisons made of applications received, initial decisions, awards and initial refusals are due to applications being withdrawn; applicants rejecting or not responding to loan offers; and decisions outstanding at the time of the count.</li></ul> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 18:03:35 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris