§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have been made to the Social Fund in respect of the payment of costs for funerals by his Department since May 1995; and what plans he has to make further changes. [55044]
§ Angela EagleThe Funeral Payment scheme has been amended four times since May 1995. Details of the main changes are set out.
In June 1995, a £500 cap was placed on specified funeral directors' services, and the payment of reasonable costs for other specified disbursements was introduced. A new priority order reflected that the responsible person would be the surviving partner or, where there was no partner, a close relative or close friend. A contact test was also introduced to help determine whether it was reasonable for the claimant to have taken responsibility for the funeral costs where there was no surviving partner.
In October 1996, a number of minor changes were introduced, including adding income-based Jobseeker's Allowance to the list of qualifying benefits; making provision for a fee or donation for a minister, but restricting the amount allowed to that laid down in the Parochial Fees Order.
In April 1997, the scheme was simplified to allow the cost of a small number of specified items or services, plus up to £600 for other funeral expenses. The specified items included the necessary costs of a burial or cremation. A new "immediate family member" contact test was introduced where there was no surviving partner, to help determine whether it was reasonable for the claimant to have taken responsibility for the funeral costs. This change prevented payment if there were other immediate family members (parent, son or daughter of the deceased), and neither they nor their partner had been awarded a qualifying benefit.
In November 1997, following a decision of the Social Security Commissioner, the provision was extended to allow a Funeral Payment where a funeral took place outside the United Kingdom (UK), provided it was within the European Economic Area. In such cases, the amount allowed would be limited to that which would have been awarded if the funeral had taken place in the area where the deceased lived in the UK.
As with all areas of Government policy, this area is kept under review, but we have no immediate plans to make further changes.