Funeral Costs Plan

Action plan to tackle funeral poverty and make more affordable funeral options available.


Timeline of progress so far and next steps

November 2014: Smith Commission agrees Funeral Payment should be one of the 11 benefits devolved to the Scottish Parliament

March 2015: Removal of the doctor's fee for the bereaved from cremation costs.

October 2015: John Birrell and Citizens Advice Scotland asked to prepare a report on Funeral Poverty in Scotland

February 2016: SG response to the Review of Funeral Poverty published

March 2016: Scotland Act 2016 receives Royal Assent

March 2016: Funeral Expense Assistance and Funeral Poverty Reference Group established

April 2016: Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 receives Royal Assent

October 2016: Fairer Scotland Action Plan published

October 2016: 3 round table discussions hosted by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities with the funeral industry, local authorities and the third sector

November 2016: SG hosts the National Conference on Funeral Poverty

April 2017: Launch of training for advisors on the current DWP Funeral Payment

June 2017: Social Security Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament

August 2017: Publication of Funeral Costs Plan and Planning Your Own Funeral leaflet. Launch of training for advisors on funeral poverty

By December 2018: SG guidance on funeral costs published

By summer 2019: Launch of Scottish Funeral Expense Assistance benefit

By autumn 2020: Launch of Pilot Scottish funeral bond

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