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<p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments continue to meet the necessary costs
of a cremation or burial for eligible claimants. Average payments have increased year-on-year
to meet these necessary costs. We have had to make difficult choices about welfare
spending and it has not been possible to increase the £700 maximum for other costs.
However we have made interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans available for funeral
costs in addition to Funeral Expenses Payments.</p><p> </p><p>In 2016/17, approximately
27,000 Funeral Expenses Payments were paid worth around £38.6 million. The average
payment made has increased in value in the past ten years by about 28 per cent – from
£1,117 in 2006/07 to £1,427 in 2016/17 – as the necessary costs have increased.</p><p>
</p><p>We need to ensure that we have a system that is both fair for tax payers, while
assisting the most vulnerable with funeral expenses. 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>
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