Backing for funeral cost support changes
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.”