Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/481) (“the 1987 Regulations”) by further specifying who may be entitled to a payment from the social fund by way of funeral expenses. They provide for a limit on funeral directors' fees of £500 and also on the costs of a person who is not such a director but who arranges the funeral and specify other expenses for which a funeral payment may be made under the 1987 Regulations. A transitional provision is made so that the amending provisions shall not have effect for deaths occurring before 5th June 1995 where the funeral takes place on or before 5th September 1995.

These Regulations do not impose a charge on businesses.

The Report of the Social Security Advisory Committee dated 15th March 1995 on the proposals referred to them, together with a statement showing the extent to which these Regulations give effect to the Report and in so far as they do not give effect to it, the reasons why not, are contained in Command Paper Cm. 2858, published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.