NAFD tells Minister the Social Fund is failing
Work and Pensions Minister Kitty Ussher MP met with the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Funerals and Bereavement on January 26 and was left in no doubt that the provision of funerals paid for by the Social Fund is letting down both families and the profession.
All Party Parliamentary Group chairman Bill Olner MP and the NAFD’s representatives pointed out that two years ago the average cost of a Simple Funeral was £1,050 (NAFD Pricing Survey, May 2007), which makes the £700 available through the Social Fund for ‘other funeral expenses’ is wholly inadequate, and questioned what other Social Fund benefits have been capped for the past six years.
The delegation also drew to Ms Ussher’s attention the fact that, under the current system, a decision to award a Social Fund payment can only be made after the funeral has been conducted and this is making a difficult situation worse. In the current economic climate funeral directors are worried about taking on bad debt and, as a consequence, many are refusing to carry out funerals unless cash is paid upfront.
“To her credit, Ms Ussher came to the meeting with an open mind, listened to the issues we raised and asked a number of questions to help her understand the problems we face,” says NAFD chief executive officer Alan Slater.
“We recounted how one NAFD member was contacted by a bereaved family that had been turned away by no less than seven funeral directors, all of whom were unwilling to take on the funeral for fear of not getting a payment from the Social Fund, and it is this kind of compelling evidence which is helping us make a strong case for reform.”
The NAFD called on the Government to increase the cap on ‘other funeral expenses’ to reflect the cost of a Simple Funeral; to remove the Minister/Secular Officiant’s fee from ‘other funeral expenses’ and to provide clarity to the funeral industry, DWP staff and the bereaved as to what is included in ‘other funeral expenses’ and the actual costs of burial and cremation.
Tellingly, the Minister voiced the opinion that the Social Fund only makes a ‘significant contribution’ towards the cost of the funeral which, if true, marks a major shift in the Government’s thinking.
Nigel Lymn Rose, past president of the NAFD and its leading representative on legislative matters, says: “The bereaved still believe that a funeral paid for by the Social Fund covers all the costs involved, so in light of the Minister’s comment we need urgent clarification.
“Funeral directors are already in an unenviable position and if they are to manage families’ expectations and their understanding of the true cost of a Simple Funeral, we will insist that the Government makes clear to all those involved in administering the Social Fund the price of a funeral and what exactly is covered by the Social Fund payment.”
In the meantime, the Association has been asked to provide further examples of how the Social Fund is failing. Funeral directors who can demonstrate the inadequacies of the Social Fund in their area and the problems its administration is causing them and the bereaved families they serve are invited to liaise with the NAFD, which will collate the information and submit it to the Minister.
Debating the Coroners and Justice Bill
The Coroners and Justice Bill introduced into the House of Commons on January 14 contains a number of key measures, including:
- reforms to the coroner system that will see the appointment of a senior Judge to the new post of Chief Coroner for England and Wales
- new national standards for coroners' investigations
- new powers to transfer investigations from one area to another to prevent backlogs for both military and non-military inquests
- measures which ensure that coroners' verdicts are accurate and based on all available evidence, even if that evidence cannot be made public
The NAFD now plans to liaise with civil servants responsible for the Bill and meet with the Conservative and Liberal Democrat spokespeople who are dealing with it to gain a full appreciation of how the measures will impact on the funeral sector, seeking amendments to clauses in the Bill if necessary.
Parliamentary Question on retained ashes
Guidance on dealing with the problem of retained ashes was expected late last year following a meeting between the NAFD and Ministry of Justice officials. Regrettably, this has not been forthcoming and Bill Olner MP has now taken up the issue in the House of Commons, tabling a Parliamentary Question which asks the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish guidance to local authorities on the length of time ashes should be retained by crematoria and on the disposal of ashes which have not been claimed by the family of the deceased.
