Citizens Advice Bureaux is to train advisors to help people plan for funerals including supporting them to access funeral payments
Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) is to expand its support offered to people needing advice on funeral planning in Scotland including how to access financial help.
Funding has been made available to train CAB advisors to help people plan for funerals including supporting them to access funeral payments, which are available to help people on low incomes with funeral costs they are responsible for.
The move was announced at this week’s Funeral Poverty Conference in Edinburgh by Scottish Government social security secretary, Angela Constance.
People in that distressing situation need free practical advice
It comes on the back of a Citizens Advice Scotland report in February this year that found funeral costs varied widely across the country and were rising faster than inflation.
The government has already committed to processing funeral payment applications, which is one of the benefits that will be transferred to Scotland with the new social security powers, within 10 working days of receipt, in order to ease the impact of long processing times.
“Funerals are very personal, wrapped up in family and tradition. But they can also be stressful, especially when money is tight," Constance said.
“It is important that people are able to organise and pay for a funeral which meets their needs within their budget. But it can be difficult for bereaved people to compare funeral prices and get the full picture of the options that are open to them.
“CAB advisers already play a vital role in providing advice and support around funeral planning and this new initiative will ensure the very best advice and support is available to people across Scotland when they are faced with planning and paying for a funeral.
“Devolution of funeral payments provides an opportunity to set up a new system which is more predictable, processed more quickly and joined up with Scottish policy.
“We will use our new powers over funeral payments to reach more of those in need, reducing the need for borrowing and the stress that this can cause.”
Anne Lavery, acting chief executive of Citizens Advice Scotland, said: "As our research shows, too many families are struggling to afford a decent burial for their loved ones.
“People in that distressing situation need free practical advice.
“The CAB service delivers that, and this welcome new funding will enable us to help even more families through this difficult situation."
More than 1,000 funerals take place in Scotland every week, with an average cost of over £3,500.
