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171916
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2015-01-05more like thismore than 2015-01-05
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the amount granted in Social Fund funeral payments has not risen for more than 10 years. more like this
tabling member constituency Birmingham, Hall Green more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Roger Godsiff more like this
uin 219706 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2015-01-12more like thismore than 2015-01-12
answer text <p /> <p>We are conscious of the rise in burial and cremation fees. That is why the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment covers specified necessary costs. As these have increased in time, so has that portion of the overall Social Fund Funeral Payment. As such, the Government has protected these payments. The Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme continues to provide help towards a simple, respectful, low-cost funeral and the average funeral expenses payment in 2002/03 was £929 rising in 2013/14 to £1,347.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>This Government has also extended the Social Fund Budgeting Loans scheme so that these are also available to those on income related benefits to help towards the costs relating to funeral expenses.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
remove maximum value filtermore like thismore than 2015-01-12T12:32:25.523Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
304
label Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff more like this
170554
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-12-15more like thismore than 2014-12-15
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the average time taken to process an application for funeral expenses from the Social Fund from application submission to decision in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, (d) England, (e) Northern Ireland in each of the last four years for which figures are available. more like this
tabling member constituency Airdrie and Shotts more like this
tabling member printed
Pamela Nash more like this
uin 218763 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-18more like thismore than 2014-12-18
answer text <p>The average number of working days taken to process applications for funeral payments in England, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain are set out for each of the last four financial years in Table 1 below.</p><p> </p><p>Information regarding funeral payments for Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland office.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: Average working days taken to process applications for funeral payments in </strong><strong>England</strong><strong>, </strong><strong>Scotland</strong><strong>, </strong><strong>Wales</strong><strong> and Great Britain, 2010/11 to 2013/14</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2"> </td><td colspan="4"><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2010/11</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>England</strong></p></td><td><p>14.8</p></td><td><p>13.7</p></td><td><p>14.6</p></td><td><p>18.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Scotland</strong></p></td><td><p>13.9</p></td><td><p>14.5</p></td><td><p>14.4</p></td><td><p>19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Wales</strong></p></td><td><p>11.6</p></td><td><p>12.8</p></td><td><p>16.9</p></td><td><p>19.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Great Britain</strong></p></td><td><p>14.5</p></td><td><p>13.8</p></td><td><p>14.7</p></td><td><p>18.4</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>For additional context, the average monthly clearance times between April 2014 and November 2014 are given in Table 2. As these figures are based on a shorter time frame and Funeral Payment applications vary throughout the year; please note that these figures are not directly comparable to those in Table 1.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 2: Average number of working days taken to process applications for funeral payments in </strong><strong>England</strong><strong>, </strong><strong>Scotland</strong><strong>, </strong><strong>Wales</strong><strong> and </strong><strong>Great Britain</strong><strong>, by month, April 2014 to November 2014</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>England</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Wales</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Scotland</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Great Britain</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-14</p></td><td><p>21.4</p></td><td><p>22.9</p></td><td><p>20.9</p></td><td><p>21.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-14</p></td><td><p>22.7</p></td><td><p>23.7</p></td><td><p>20.5</p></td><td><p>22.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-14</p></td><td><p>21.3</p></td><td><p>23.4</p></td><td><p>20.2</p></td><td><p>21.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-14</p></td><td><p>17.3</p></td><td><p>18.7</p></td><td><p>14.9</p></td><td><p>17.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-14</p></td><td><p>17.0</p></td><td><p>16.5</p></td><td><p>13.1</p></td><td><p>16.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-14</p></td><td><p>18.4</p></td><td><p>18.0</p></td><td><p>15.0</p></td><td><p>17.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-14</p></td><td><p>19.7</p></td><td><p>25.2</p></td><td><p>13.2</p></td><td><p>19.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-14</p></td><td><p>13.2</p></td><td><p>14.1</p></td><td><p>17.1</p></td><td><p>13.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Apr-14 to Nov-14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>19.0</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>20.3</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>16.9</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>18.8</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes</strong></p><p> </p><p>· These figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.</p><p>· The clearance time for funeral payment applications is measured in whole working days from the date the application is received until the date the decision is taken.</p>
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-18T17:07:57.223Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-18T17:07:57.223Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
3909
label Biography information for Pamela Nash more like this
170139
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-12-12more like thismore than 2014-12-12
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2014 to Question 216782, what steps his Department is taking to improve the administration process for funeral payments. more like this
tabling member constituency South Shields more like this
tabling member printed
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck more like this
uin 218572 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-16more like thismore than 2014-12-16
answer text <p /> <p>We are currently taking steps to improve the scheme and will continue to monitor its effectiveness so that it continues to meet its aim of providing a contribution towards the cost of a funeral. For example staff are working with the Bereavement Service, the main conduit of initial applications, to ensure where possible they collect all the required evidence and information at the earliest possible juncture, smoothing and improving the process for claimants. On-going improvements such as this ensure claims are dealt with in a timely and consistent manner and are in the best interests of those needing the scheme’s support.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-16T12:41:43.79Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-16T12:41:43.79Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
4277
label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck more like this
167384
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-12-02more like thismore than 2014-12-02
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to review the process for applying for funeral payments. more like this
tabling member constituency Bedford more like this
tabling member printed
Richard Fuller more like this
uin 216782 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-12-08more like thismore than 2014-12-08
answer text <p /> <p>We are currently taking steps to improve the scheme and will continue to monitor its effectiveness.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-12-08T12:54:59.917Zmore like thismore than 2014-12-08T12:54:59.917Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
3912
label Biography information for Richard Fuller more like this
100539
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-10-22more like thismore than 2014-10-22
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications were made to the Social Fund to cover the cost of funerals in each year since 2010; and how many of those applications were rejected. more like this
tabling member constituency Liverpool, Walton more like this
tabling member printed
Steve Rotheram more like this
uin 211468 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-10-27more like thismore than 2014-10-27
answer text <p /> <p>From the latest data available, 305,840 applications have been made for Funeral Payments in Great Britain between January 2010 and September 2014, the latest data available. In the same period there have been 151,620 refusals.</p><p> </p><p>Table 1 below shows the number of applications and refusals for each year. Note that 2014 data only extends to September thus far.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>2014 (Jan-Sep)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Applications</p></td><td><p>66,780</p></td><td><p>70,990</p></td><td><p>66,390</p></td><td><p>62,200</p></td><td><p>39,470</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Refusals</p></td><td><p>33,350</p></td><td><p>36,330</p></td><td><p>34,540</p></td><td><p>29,200</p></td><td><p>18,190</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>1. These figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.</p><p> </p><p>2. The figures given are the number of applications and initial refusals in the given time period and not the number of people who made applications or received awards. An individual may make more than one application in a year. Information on the number of people who made applications and received awards is not available.</p><p>.</p><p>3. The refusal figures given are based on the initial decisions made on each case and may include cases where an award was later made on review.</p><p> </p><p>4. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.</p>
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-10-27T13:57:49.2833144Zmore like thismore than 2014-10-27T13:57:49.2833144Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
4035
label Biography information for Steve Rotheram more like this
100116
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-10-21more like thismore than 2014-10-21
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications have been made to the Government Funeral Payment scheme since May 2010; and how many such applications have been rejected. more like this
tabling member constituency Liverpool, Walton more like this
tabling member printed
Steve Rotheram more like this
uin 211293 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-10-24more like thismore than 2014-10-24
answer text <p>From the latest data available, 280,780 applications have been made for Funeral Payments in Great Britain between May 2010 and September 2014. In the same period there have been 139,560 refusals.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes</strong></p><p> </p><p>1. These figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.</p><p> </p><p>2. The figures given are the number of applications and initial refusals in the given time period and not the number of people who made applications or received awards. An individual may make more than one application in a year. Information on the number of people who made applications and received awards is not available.</p><p> </p><p>3. The refusal figures given are based on the initial decisions made on each case and may include cases where an award was later made on review.</p><p> </p><p>4. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-10-24T13:48:18.1742771Zmore like thismore than 2014-10-24T13:48:18.1742771Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
4035
label Biography information for Steve Rotheram more like this
92715
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-10-10more like thismore than 2014-10-10
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the value of help for funeral costs is calculated; what factors those calculations take into account; and what account is taken in such calculations of the income of the next of kin. more like this
tabling member constituency Hemsworth more like this
tabling member printed
Jon Trickett more like this
uin 209863 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-10-15more like thismore than 2014-10-15
answer text <p /> <p>The value of help for funeral costs is calculated to cover the necessary costs of: a new burial plot with all necessary burial fees or the cost of necessary cremation fees; reasonable cost of transportation of the body in the UK, for any part of the journey that is in excess of 50 miles, and the necessary cost of that part of the return journey that is over 50 miles for the transport of the coffin and bearers, plus 1 additional vehicle; the cost of documentation needed for the immediate release of assets of the deceased; and the necessary expenses of one return journey for the responsible person to arrange or attend the funeral. We also provide up to £700 for other funeral expenses.</p><p> </p><p>To be eligible for a Funeral Payment the person who is responsible for payment of the funeral bill must be the partner of the deceased, if there is one, or a close relative or friend of the deceased and be in receipt of certain income based benefits.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p>
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-10-15T13:20:55.0955571Zmore like thismore than 2014-10-15T13:20:55.0955571Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
410
label Biography information for Jon Trickett more like this
92716
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-10-10more like thismore than 2014-10-10
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to monitor the average costs of funerals; and what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funeral payments to meet the average cost of a funeral. more like this
tabling member constituency Hemsworth more like this
tabling member printed
Jon Trickett more like this
uin 209862 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-10-16more like thismore than 2014-10-16
answer text <p /> <p>My department does not collect data to monitor the average cost of funerals.</p><p> </p><p>The Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme provides help towards the necessary costs of a simple, respectful, low-cost funeral and is not intended to meet all costs that could be associated with the day. The average award made in 2012/13 was £1,225.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-10-16T13:55:01.4254153Zmore like thismore than 2014-10-16T13:55:01.4254153Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
410
label Biography information for Jon Trickett more like this
91110
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-09-08more like thismore than 2014-09-08
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of funeral payment decisions were made within his Department's target time in each of the last three years. more like this
tabling member constituency South Shields more like this
tabling member printed
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck more like this
uin 208463 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-09-11more like thismore than 2014-09-11
answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The following table has been taken from the Social Fund Annual Report for 2012/13 which is the latest available published data and the Social Fund Annual Reports for 2011/12 and 2010/11.</p><p> </p><p>The table shows that the average clearance time for Funeral Payment awards was 14.76 working days against a target of 16 working days in 2012/13, 13.8 working days in 2011/12 and 14.5 working days in 2010/11.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td>Funeral Payments</td><td></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Average Actual Clearance Times (AACT) in working days</td><td>AACT Achieved</td><td>AACT Achieved</td><td>% Cleared within AACT Standard</td><td>% Cleared within AACT Standard plus 2 days</td><td>% Cleared within AACT Standard Plus 5 days</td></tr><tr><td>2012/13</td><td>16</td><td>14.76</td><td>65.10%</td><td>74.20%</td><td>83.00%</td></tr><tr><td>2011/12</td><td>16</td><td>13.8</td><td>*</td><td>*</td><td>*</td></tr><tr><td>2010/11</td><td>16</td><td>14.5</td><td>*</td><td>*</td><td>*</td></tr></tbody></table><p /> <p>* <strong>denotes data unavailable</strong></p>
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-09-11T16:07:20.7121168Zmore like thismore than 2014-09-11T16:07:20.7121168Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
4277
label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck more like this
91117
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-09-08more like thismore than 2014-09-08
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Funeral Payments remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) average and (b) total cost was of processing claims for Social Fund Funeral Payments in the last year. more like this
tabling member constituency South Shields more like this
tabling member printed
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck more like this
uin 208465 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-09-11more like thismore than 2014-09-11
answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The costs of producing a Social Fund Funeral Payment across DWP in 2013-14 were as follows:</p><p> </p><p>Total Cost £2.598m</p><p>Unit Cost £45.56</p><p> </p><p>This includes salary costs plus locally attributed non-staff costs.</p><p> </p><p>Source ABM 2013-14 Model (10/9/14).</p> more like this
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Steve Webb more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-09-11T16:17:01.4495569Zmore like thismore than 2014-09-11T16:17:01.4495569Z
answering member
220
label Biography information for Steve Webb more like this
tabling member
4277
label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck more like this