5000 to benefit from funeral cash boost

A funeral director from West Lothian has welcomed new funding that will help bereaved families on low incomes.

The Scottish Government fund aims to reduce the impact that necessary funeral expenses have on families living in poverty.

Funeral costs have been shown to have a disproportionate impact on low income consumers across the UK, with funeral costs potentially accounting for over a third of the annual expenditure of those on the lowest incomes.

The Funeral Support Payment currently gives families £ 700 to cover burial and cremation fees in full but the payment is to be increased to £ 1000 for ‘other expenses,’ like funeral director fees, celebrant’s fees, flowers and the cost of purchasing a coffin.

The Scottish Government’s announcement follows a similar commitment from Westminster to increase the funeral benefit in England and Wales from £ 700 to £1000.

However, the Scottish Government has gone one step further in stating that the increase will be uprated, which will see the value rise year- on- year to allow for inflating funeral costs. It is anticipated that up to 5000 Scottish families will benefit from this enhanced benefit each year.

West Lothian funeral director, Jim Brodie, of Brodies Funeral Services

Ltd, said: “There are many people in our community who rely on the Funeral Support Payment, and we are thrilled that the benefit has increased for bereaved families in West Lothian. This benefit makes a real difference to bereaved families, and the increased payment will further enable them to have a dignified ceremony for a loved one.

“We view Funera l Support Payment funerals as a commitment to our community, and the increased payment will help keep these services viable for years to come.”

Gordon Swan, Director of Communications at leading funeral plan provider Golden Charter, added:

“Golden Charter has been calling for an increase in

Funeral Support Payments for some time, recognising that the benefit set in 2003 has gradually fallen well below the costs faced by families who have lost a love one. As a Scottish- based company, we know the positive impact this increase will bring to families at a very difficult time.

“We provide funeral planning services across the whole of the UK, and would like to see the Department of Work and Pensions also uprate this important benefit, extending the future security offered by that commitment to all bereaved families across the UK.”