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Statement on what proposals he has to change the provision of Social Fund funeral payments. - Inc fact that amending regulations and a copy of the Social Security Advisory Committee's report, along with my response, have been laid before the House today and that we have decided to proceed with...

Asked by

Edward Leigh (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

17 March 1997

Reference

20953; 292 c485-6W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

If the provision of a funeral bond certificate purchased to provide a funeral service on death is counted as an asset for the purposes of assessing means-tested social security benefits.

Asked by

John Carlisle (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

29 January 1997

Reference

12598; 289 c297W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What plans he has to review the provision of Social Fund funeral payments.

Asked by

David Faber (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

1 November 1996

Answered on

1 November 1996

Mr. Faber: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the provision of social fund funeral payments. [2550] Mr. Roger Evans: Major changes were introduced in June 1995. I have been monitoring their effects. Expenditure has been significantly reduced from £63 million during 1994-95 to £49 million during 1995- 96. I now propose to develop the scheme further. From April 1997, help will be targeted more precisely on those most in need and the scheme will be made simpler. The proposed scheme will allow up to £600 for funeral expenses. The allowable items will no longer be specified leaving the person responsible for arranging the funeral free to decide which elements should be included. Certain disbursements-- for example burial or cremation costs-- will be paid in addition to the capped amount. Likewise, provision will be made where additional costs are likely to arise in exceptional circumstances, for example transportation costs for distances in excess of 50 miles. Under the proposed changes, both the person responsible for making the funeral arrangements and the funeral director will have a clearer understanding of the level of help available from the social fund. In addition, a new test will help the adjudication officer to decide if it was reasonable for the person to have taken responsibility for the funeral expenses. In a case where there is no surviving partner, where a parent, son or daughter of the deceased exists, and neither they nor their partner are in receipt of a qualifying benefit it will be considered unreasonable for the person receiving the qualifying benefit to take responsibility for the funeral expenses. Discussions have been taking place with funeral directors' associations at regular intervals and the proposed changes will be discussed with them shortly. These proposals will be submitted to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Date

1 November 1996

Reference

2550; 284 c286-7W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security;Social Security Benefits Agency

If he will list the expenditure from the Social Fund in respect of funeral expenses in Wales for each of the last three years. - Text of letter from Peter Mathison dated 16 July 1996 of Benefits Agency.

Asked by

Rhodri Morgan (Labour)

Answering body

Social Security Benefits Agency

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

17 July 1996

Reference

37607; 281 c547-8W;281 c547W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

Statement on Social Fund for 1995-96 and the Social Fund Commissioner's annual report.

Asked by

Alan Duncan (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

17 July 1996

Answered on

17 July 1996

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish his annual report on the social fund for 1995-96 and the Social Fund Commissioner's annual report; and if he will make a statement.[37972] Mr. Roger Evans: The Secretary of State's annual report on the social fund for 1995-96, Cm 3320, was published today and has been laid before Parliament. The report records that the gross budget allocated to the discretionary part of the fund on 1 April 1995 was £406 million, an increase of £53 million on the budget set at 1 April 1994. For the current year, we have increased the gross discretionary budget by £13.5 million to £419.5 million. Total gross expenditure in 1995-96 was £534 million, £83 million higher than in 1994-95 and was the highest annual level of expenditure since the fund was set up in 1988. This included over 2 million non-repayable grants and interest free loans worth £401 million and funeral, maternity and cold weather payments worth £133 million. Cold weather payments were increased from £7 to £8.50 on 1 November 1995. Over 7 million payments were made to around 3 million people at a cost of £62 million. As part of the aim of eliminating abuse, changes to the funeral payment scheme came into effect on 5 June 1995 to ensure that only those with good cause for taking responsibility for a funeral were eligible for help. In addition, a ceiling was placed on the amount payable to cover specified funeral director's charges. The number of funeral payments had nearly doubled between 1988-89 and 1994-95, but expenditure had more than trebled. The new arrangements continue to provide for a dignified funeral but at the same time protect public funds. Expenditure on funeral payments has reduced from £63 million in 1994-95 to £49 million in 1995-96. The social fund continues to play an important role in supporting mainstream social security provision, in providing a varied and flexible response to the individual needs of applicants and in offering the taxpayer value for money. The Social Fund Commissioner's annual report has also been published today and copies placed in the Library.

Date

17 July 1996

Reference

37972; 281 c549-50W;281 c548-50W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

If he will make it his policy to ensure that a higher proportion of all funeral expenses of those receiving social security benefit are met by the State. - We have no plans to do so. However, all aspects of the benefits system are kept under review.

Asked by

Austin Mitchell (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 July 1996

Reference

34404; 280 c502W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What assessment he has made of the effect of the new system of social fund funeral payments, on prices and costs in the funeral industry.

Asked by

Austin Mitchell (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 July 1996

Reference

34421; 280 c502W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What evidence he has evaluated in respect of the scale of abuse in relation to the social fund funeral payments system. - Includes figures.

Asked by

Austin Mitchell (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 July 1996

Reference

34406; 280 c470-1W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What was the average cost of a funeral in each of the last five years and for the current year in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) the United Kingdom as a whole; and what figures Dept has on average cost of a funeral in each of last...

Asked by

Austin Mitchell (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

2 July 1996

Reference

280 c412-3W; 34412;34413

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What recent investigations his Department has commissioned into the cost of simple funerals.

Asked by

Austin Mitchell (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

2 July 1996

Reference

34405; 280 c413W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

Answered by

Roger Evans (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

25 June 1996

Reference

280 c147

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

Answered by

Roger Evans (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

25 June 1996

Reference

280 c147

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What changes have been made since 1993 to the Social Security Funeral Payments scheme; and what is his assessment of the effect of these changes.

Asked by

Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Oral questions - Lead

Status

Answered

Date

25 June 1996

Reference

32983; 280 c147

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current limit on payment by the Social Fund of funeral grants; and what plans he has to change this limit.

Asked by

Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

18 June 1996

Reference

30396; 279 c419W;279 c413W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What recent changes have been introduced to the Social Security funeral payments fund scheme; and what effects these will have for those bereaved who have need to claim support for funeral expenses.

Asked by

Edward O'Hara (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Oral questions - Lead

Status

Answered

Date

23 April 1996

Reference

276 c189;276 c189-90; 24677

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

Answered by

Roger Evans (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

23 April 1996

Reference

276 c189;276 c189-90

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

Answered by

Roger Evans (Conservative)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

23 April 1996

Reference

276 c189;276 c189-90

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What was the average size of loans from the Discretionary Social Fund for additional funeral expenses since June 1995. - Table given. (Holding answer 12 March 1996).

Asked by

Ieuan Wyn Jones (Plaid Cymru)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

18 March 1996

Answered on

18 March 1996

Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average size of loans from the discretionary social fund for additional funeral expenses since June 1995.[19881] Mr.Roger Evans: [holding answer 12 March 1996]: The information is set out in the table: Average size of applications (excluding Northern Ireland) (£) _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Application type Average application for Average application for Average application for Average size of all flowers/ funeral expenses other expenses applications wreath Community care grant 32.20 499.42 50.00 136.95 Budgeting loan 38.83 383.87 80.94 188.05 Dual application 34.69 434.85 113.64 150.69 Crisis loan 40.49 250.17 50.00 98.23 Sub-total loans + DAs 36.42 395.59 93.31 153.84 Total 34.96 420.10 86.47 148.66 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1. Applications may result in an award of a different payment type. Dual applications are applications for both a community care grant and a budgeting loan. 2. The information covers applications in the period between 5 June and 1 August 1995. It includes help with flowers, wreaths, funeral directors fees and other expenses. 3. Funeral expenses covered by the regulated scheme were specifically excluded from the discretionary fund from 2 August 1995.

Date

18 March 1996

Reference

19881; 274 c19-20W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

What was the average payment made to claimants under the Discretionary Social Fund for funeral expenses since June 1995. - Inc table.

Asked by

Ieuan Wyn Jones (Plaid Cymru)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

12 March 1996

Reference

19882; 273 c592W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Social Security

If he will publish guidelines on the items to be included in or excluded from DSS assistance with funeral bills. - Inc ref to Regulation 3(4) of the Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Amendment Regulations 1995 (SI. 1229 1995) (in Library); and Social Security leaflets: D49; D49s; SB16...

Asked by

Maria Fyfe (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Social Security

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

19 February 1996

Reference

15376; 272 c38W;272 c27W

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher