Written question asked by Caroline Lucas (Green Party) on Wednesday, 15 November 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 November 2017. It was answered by Caroline Dinenage (Conservative) on Monday, 20 November 2017 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Funeral Payments: Costs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of data in the Royal London National Funeral Cost Index 2017 on the difference between average funeral costs and average Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment (SFFEP) awards; what assessment he has made of trends in the difference between average funeral costs and average SFFEP awards; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: We continue to monitor the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme and work towards improving it, while supporting the most vulnerable with their funeral expenses. As part of this work, my officials have worked extensively with representatives of the funeral industry and the Royal London is one of these. In the past ten years, the average Funeral Expenses Payment has increased in value by about 28% from £1,117 in 2006/07 to £1,427 in 2016/17 while inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index measure increased by around 26%.

Secondary information