§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the(a) mean and (b) median payment for funeral expenses from the social fund for the latest period for which figures are available; how many applicants were successful in that period; how many of the grants made were between £875 and £1,000; and how many were over £1,000.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is set out in the table. It is for the current financial year to 30 November.
Since 1988–89, the average funeral payment award has been rising by 6 per cent. per annum more than the rate of inflation and the total cost has risen from £18 million to over £60 million in 1993–94.
Number of funeral payment awards April-November 1994 44,428 Number of awards made between £875 and £1,0001 8,718 Number of awards over £1,000 19,791 Average award size £919 Median award size1 £967 Source: Benefits Agency's policy, budget and management information system. Note: 1 These figures are estimates based on data which provide the number of awards by cash bands of £100. The available data on cash band do not take account of payments that are returned in the accounting period in which the awards were made.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will define the category of remote relatives being those who may no longer claim funeral 631W expenses in terms of his announcement of changes to the social fund rules announced on 30 November;
(2) how many of the applicants receiving grants for funeral expenses from the social fund during the latest period for which figures are available he estimates would not have been eligible to claim if the limitation excluding remote relatives announced by him on 30 November had been in force.
§ Mr. Roger EvansFrom April 1995, a funeral payment may not be awarded to a claimant where another close relative had equal or closer contact with the deceased, and either that relative is not in receipt of a qualifying benefit1 or has capital exceeding the disregard for a social fund funeral payment.
Funeral payment awards by cashband1 Year 0 to £200 £201 to £400 £401 to £600 £601 to £800 £800 to £1,000 over £1,000 Southern Territory 1991–92 1,604 1,430 1,724 4,173 5,777 2,712 1992–93 1,537 1,252 1,317 3,239 6,208 5,742 1993–94 1,504 1,165 1,142 2,113 6,033 10,246 Wales and Central Territory 1991–92 1,960 1,894 2,915 7,598 6,604 2,140 1992–93 1,795 1,706 2,199 6,074 9,183 4,399 1993–94 1,834 1,584 1,800 4,664 10,490 8,598 Scotland and Northern Territory 1991–92 1,403 1,429 2,082 5,320 5,118 1,751 1992–93 1,156 1,239 1,583 4,134 6,283 4,235 1993–94 1,185 1,183 1,386 3,190 6,929 7,150 Note: 1The available data on awards by cash band do not take account of payments that are returned in the accounting period in which the awards were made. Source:
Benefits Agency's policy budget and management information system.