NAFD petitions Prime Minister over Social Fund payments
On Monday, April 20 the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) went to 10 Downing Street to petition the Prime Minister for improvements to the system of Social Fund payments for funerals.
Concerned that the Government has changed it stance on this issue and now considers the amount allocated for ‘other funeral expenses’ as merely a contribution towards the cost of a Simple Funeral the NAFD, representing the funeral profession and the bereaved, decided to write to Gordon Brown urging him to take immediate action.
Led by Bill Olner MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Funerals and Bereavement Group, the Association handed over a letter signed by Alan Slater, Chief Executive Officer of the NAFD; the Rt Rev Geoffrey Rowell, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe and Chair of the Churches Funeral Group and Tana Wollen, Head of Ceremonies at the British Humanist Association.
Funeral payments available through the Social Fund are wholly inadequate and, as a result, the most vulnerable bereaved families are being put under immense strain as they are either being forced to opt for a Pauper’s Funeral or are having to turn to illegal lenders to find the necessary funds, says Alan Slater.
We took the fight to Downing Street to make it clear that the situation is deteriorating and to advocate that action is needed now if the poorest members of our society are to be afforded a dignified funeral. NAFD president Graham Lymn handed in the letter, which highlighted the fact that the £700 cap on ‘other funeral expenses’ has not increased since April 2003 and pointed out that the decision to include the Minister/Secular Officiant’s fee in that sum has only served to make matters worse.
We were delighted to have the support of the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe and the British Humanist Association for this latest initiative in our campaign for more a realistic Social Fund payment for funerals and are determined to keep up the pressure, adds Mr Slater. If the Prime Minister doesn’t move on this, the Opposition Shadow Minister has agreed to take up the matter.
The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has also expressed support for the NAFD’s campaign on the Social Fund and in the coming weeks will seek further data on the impact that the shortfall in the Social Fund is having on its clients. Furthermore, the CAB has offered to agree a series of joint recommendations with the NAFD that will be put to the Government.
One of the requests at our recent meeting with Kitty Ussher MP, the DWP Minister responsible for the Social Fund, was that we highlight the views of charities on the Social Fund, says Nigel Lymn Rose, NAFD representative on legislative issues.
The CAB’s input and support for our campaign represents a major step forward and we will update the profession on developments during the next few months.
