Funeral Support Payment queries: FOI release

Information requested

Request 1: Confirmation of the most common reason for denial of funeral support payment as of January 2025.

Request 2: Confirmation of the most common dispute which was raised during re-determination cases as of January 2025.

Request 3: Confirmation of the most common reason for denial of re-determination cases as of January 2025.

Response

Response to request 1:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600.

Social Security Scotland would have to review over 7,000 denied client applications up to January 2025.

Under section 12 of FOISA public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12.

You may, however, wish to consider reducing the scope of your request in order that the costs can be brought below £600 by asking for information for a specific month. You may also find it helpful to look at the Scottish Information Commissioner's 'Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs' on his website at: https://www.foi.scot/how-do-i-ask

Response to request 2:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600.

Social Security Scotland would have to review over 1,300 client applications where there was a redetermination up to January 2025.

Under section 12 of FOISA public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12.

You may, however, wish to consider reducing the scope of your request in order that the costs can be brought below £600 by asking for a specific month. You may also find it helpful to look at the Scottish Information Commissioner's 'Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs' on his website at: https://www.foi.scot/how-do-i-ask

Response to request 3:

The most common reason for denial of re-determination cases as of January 2025 is that the applicant was not in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

Further information on the eligibility criteria for Funeral Support Payment can be found at Funeral Support Payment - mygov.scot

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.