The Government has announced that steps to make claiming a Funeral Payment easier will be introduced next year.
Having issued their response to the recent consultation on Funeral Payments, the government have considered reforms to make it simpler for people to claim and to improve clarity around eligibility for the payments.
At present, those who receive certain income-related benefits are able to claim Funeral Payments which can help pay for the funeral of a relative or close friend.
The proposed improvements include extending the claim period, introducing a shorter application in some cases, as well as allowing applications to submit evidence by electronic means.
Commenting on the planned improvements was Caroline Dineage. The Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance stated: Losing a loved one is a sad and difficult time and we want to make the process of claiming a funeral payment as simple as possible.
I want to thank those who responded to our consultation and I am pleased that we will be bringing in all its recommendations to make it easier for people to make a claim.
Further information on Funeral Payments can be accessed here.
