Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News

Backing for funeral cost support changes

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A WIDNES chartered accountant has praised the Government for implementi­ng changes making it easier to pay funeral costs.

The Funeral Expenses Payment scheme offers a contributi­on towards funeral costs for individual­s in receipt of qualifying benefits.

A consultati­on was launched last year and in January, the Government confirmed that it will be changing the eligibilit­y conditions, to ● Nigel Holland of Holland & Co Chartered Accountant­s make the scheme easier to access and more widely available.

The changes come into force from Monday, April 2.

Claimants will be able to receive contributi­ons from charities, relatives or friends without them being deducted from the overall sum payable toward funeral costs.

They will also be able to make an applicatio­n for help with costs up to six months from the funeral date instead of the current three months, as well as submit evi- dence in support of their claim electronic­ally.

However, the maximum payment individual­s can receive will stay the same at £700.

A survey by SunLife of 1,524 people put the average cost of a basic funeral in 2017 at £4,078, a rise of 41% from £2,390 in 2007.

Nigel Holland, from Holland & Co Chartered Accountant­s on Widnes Road, said: “It is good that the Government has made the claim process easier to pay for funeral costs.

“The last thing you want during a time of grievance is added stress trying to find the capital to pay for the funeral.

“The cost of funerals over the years has increased substantia­lly making it harder for people to afford them.

“Even with the help from the Funeral Expense Payment scheme, people still struggle to pay for funerals.

“The change involves the process of claiming the payment easier, whilst the actual amount will stay the same.

“In my opinion, the payment should increase accordingl­y to match the cost of funerals which have increased significan­tly.

“Not everyone will qualify for the payment, however. Therefore, I would suggest that people put money aside for their own funeral in order to take stress off loved ones in the future.”

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