Social Fund for Funeral - T's & C's?

TerryandGaby

Wonder if anyone can assist with my problem. My partner's father passed away yesterday, and we are now concerned about the payment of the funeral. Her sister is on benefits as she has five children, though my partner is not. However, a bankruptcy order from 2007 declares she has £160 disposable income, which she pays towards her creditors from a three-year period since bankruptcy. In that light, neither daughter has funds to pay for the funeral. There are no other close relations. Where do we stand on obtaining, at least a partial, payment towards the costs? I can help to a certain degree though I am not family, and the situation is causing them obvious distress as they are worried about what to do.

Thanks for your help.

zappster1966

The funeral payment from DWP invariably does not cover the full cost of the funeral. Frequently it leaves a debt still owing to the funeral directors of several hundred pounds.

But I think you've hit the nail on the head. Social Fund first consider whether anyone else in the family can reasonably be expected to pay for the funeral, the wife, other sons/daughters etc etc. The big question for you is how they'll regard your partner's bankcruptcy order. On that I'm not sure, perhaps there's a Social Fund person around tonight who can assist. Logic would dictate she hasn't got the funds to make any contribution, however logic & social security seldom make good bed fellows.

Very general information can be found here.
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/jcp/partners/allowancesandbenefits/dev_009938.xml.html

Having said all that, when I worked at reception in a social security office we actively dissuaded claimants from giving information about other siblings who were working. Or we filled the form out for them & conveniently skipped the part which mentioned other relatives. Totally wrong, I know, but management condoned the practise probably because the town where we worked was dirt poor, local wages were the pits and anything & everything which kept folks in a job had to be a good thing.

There's no discretion nowadays, unfortunately. The rules are the rules are the rules.

Sorry to hear about the death. But all the best with the application.

TerryandGaby

Thanks for the response. Things have taken a turn for the worse - upon visiting the funeral director's, Dignity, today, they asked for over £700 upfront. We just cannot afford this, or anywhere approaching the figure. We were told that it was for external costs - ie those made on our behalf by Dignity - but surely these situations must have arisen before. Certainly in my area, and in my social circle, people do not have £700 to spend on even so important as this, it's a struggle from day to day. I just grow increasingly worried of what to do. It's no wonder so many people turn to debt.

Beepster

Hi Terry,

I am sorry to hear your news.

If this message is not too late, I would suggest you contact an independant funeral director who may be more flexible to your needs than the large multiple branch funeral directors like Dignity.

The Social Fund will normally make payment to the funeral director directly, or by sending a Bank Giro to yourself in the name of the funeral director.

You should also directly ask the funeral director about a "Basic funeral" if they have not already told you about this service which they will certainly be able to offer. A "Basic funeral" is by no means a "cheap" funeral, but has alot of the extra services which a funeral director may offer excluded. The aim of a "Basic" funeral service (while it is still not something cheap) is to ensure that a funeral may be arranged at a lower cost while also affording the family and deceased the dignity that is necessary.

Good luck.

Beepster

Conor_3

Just a thought but it might be worth ringing up the Official Receiver and explaining the situation. They may be able to suspend or cancel payments for a period.

suelees1

I'm probably too late but this info might be of use to others.

Following from what Beepster says the basic funeral (aka a municipal funeral) is exactly the same as you will get from elsewhere but at a more realistic cost. They limit it to the hearse and one 6 seater limo but if you have others mourners who want to go along they can use their own cars.

Our family purposely use these firms on principle. Funeral companies charge an arm and a leg and as this is at a time when you are at your most vulnerable people often don't question it.

I can't understand why (well I can actually!) Dignity want you to pay a disbursement of £700 upfront. Yes there are certain payments which have to be made to the church/crem/doctor but these costs can't possibly amount to £700. I did a quick search and in the 6 months to June 08 Dignity made over £20 million pre tax profit.

I'd suggest you ring your LA as they might well offer a municipal funeral themselves. I've added a link just as an example but you'll have to contact your own LA. www.tameside.gov.uk/tmbc/funeral.htm

If you get your own family flowers and put your own obituary notice in the paper as these costs can be quite prohibitive if left to the funeral director.

Beepster

Hi,

Abolutely right Suelees.

I cannot understand however how Dignity try to squeeze "disbursements" out of the bereaved particularly when Dignity own many of the crematoriums they use.

I cetainly believe this is one industry which needs more regulation.