Paying the Price of Death: the challenges for British state funeral policy Dr Liam Foster, University of Sheffield and Dr Kate Woodthorpe, University of Bath Social Aspects of Death, Dying and Bereavement Study Group Symposium Monday 21 st November 2011
Overview of the presentation today Origins of our interest(s) Background Why it matters now Funeral Payments Scheme (FPS) Issues with the FPS Where to go next
Origins Liam: pensions, welfare state, equality Kate: funerals, bereavement, commercialisation = funerals and the welfare state! = exploratory paper in progress
Background Drakeford (1998) ‘Last Rights? Funerals, poverty and social exclusion’, Journal of Social Policy, 27 (4): Corden, A., Hirst, M. and Nice, K. (2008) Financial Implications of Death of a Partner (University of York: Social Policy Research Unit) Both pointing to lack of academic/policy consideration of financial implications of death
Why does it matter now? 491,348 deaths in England and Wales in 2009 Lowest ever recorded Estimated that from 2012 mortality rate will begin to rise Anticipated increase 17% over 18 years Side note: uneven distribution of deaths around the country Eg. London has a very ‘young’ population
Alongside…. Changes to funding of social care More onus on individual responsibility for paying for care Threatened pensions and investments Higher debt burden in younger generation(s) The result? Higher levels of undersaving for pensions, limited resources to draw on, poverty potential
What are the implications? How will an individual with limited/no immediate resources pay for a funeral? What does/will the State provide? In addition, what will be the load on the local authorities with older populations?
The role of the State 1940s Welfare State established, two forms of support available. Universal Death Grant (£20) National assistance (discretionary assistance) 1979 Conservative Government changes to supplementary benefits, Single Payments introduced in 1981 Single payments absorbed into the Social Fund in 1988
The Social Fund Administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (prior to 2001 Department of Social Security) Intended to target benefits for those most in need Includes Winter Fuel Payments, Funeral Payments Scheme, Community Care Grant
Funeral Payments Scheme (FPS) 1988/89: 40,000 applications 1993/94: 80,000 applications 1995: criteria for application changed, specifically who could apply Cap on funeral director fees introduced 1997: ‘liable relative’ rule changed If relative found who was not on benefits, then application from someone on benefits was not allowed
The FPS today 2008/09: 69,000 applications 41,000 applications successful = 60% success rate OR 40% unsuccessful in their application Average payment = £1200 (including dispersement costs)
What are the issues? Who claims? 50%+ claimed by people of pensionable age (Corden et al, 2008) Pensioner poverty in UK already established concern (see Scharf, 2009) Is it enough? Average cost of funeral £2500 FPS capped at £700 + dispersement costs
Further issues? Sources of information Friends and family Jobcentre Directgov.uk Funeral directors Who should be providing information? Are claims resolved quickly enough? In 2011 NAFD claimed that a funeral had been delayed by 9 weeks Detrimental consequences? (see Corden et al, 2008)
Where to go next? Academic focus on funerals/bereavement more generally has assumed resources are readily available for bereaved people And (unwittingly?) not considered bereavement as an issue related to socio-economic background/class? (see Howarth, 2007) Stigma associated with label of ‘pauper’ Does it exist? Introduction of new package of bereavement support by DWP Does not include Social Fund Role of local authority Regional variation?
In sum Death, especially funerals, not regarded as social policy priority Research needed into the process and experience of applying to the FPS? Further research on the legacy of the Victorian pauper in contemporary social policy?
Thank you for your time today Any questions or feedback?