Written question asked by Bill Olner (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 January 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 February 2009. It was answered by Baroness Ussher (Labour) on Monday, 9 February 2009 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Funeral Payments

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what definition his Department uses of respectful funeral, as referred to in his Department's technical guidance SB16;

Answer: There is no definition of a respectful funeral within the departmental guidance or in the legislation relating to funeral payments from the Social Fund. The person responsible for arranging the funeral may claim for items or services including:"the funeral director's fees""church fee or minister's fee""organist's fee""flowers""cost of an urn""hygienic treatment."This is not a complete list of items and services that may be claimed under ““other funeral expenses””. A decision maker can award the necessary cost of certain specified items, including burial or cremation charges, in addition to an amount up to a limit of £700 for all other funeral expenses.

Secondary information