Funeral Support Payment: evaluation

This report presents findings from the evaluation of Funeral Support Payment.


Annex A: Additional statistical information

Notes which apply to more than one statistical table are presented at the beginning of Annex A, as can be seen below. Notes which apply to only one statistical table are presented underneath the relevant table.

Notes – all tables

  • Figures are rounded for disclosure control and may not sum due to rounding.
  • Figures have been rounded to the nearest one percent – figures may not sum due to rounding.

Notes – tables 1-8

  • This supplementary analysis was carried out using the same data used in the production of the Social Security Scotland client diversity and equalities analysis to (i) May 2020, (ii) November 2020, and (iii) May 2021.
  • It is possible that some of the approved application figures relate to the same applicants more than once, because people can apply for Funeral Support Payment at different points in time.

Notes – tables 9-11

1. Number of approved applications by Gender, 9 December 2019 to 31 May 2021
Gender Approved applications per time period Total number of approved applications Total percentage of approved applications
9 Dec-19 to May-20 Jun-20 to Nov-20 Dec-20 to May-21
Man 640 680 705 2,025 31%
Woman 1,270 1,400 1,330 4,000 62%
In another way * - - - -
Prefer not to say 95 130 195 420 7%
Unknown - - - - -
Total 2,005 2,215 2,230 6,450 100%
2. Number of approved applications by Age, 9 December 2019 to 31 May 2021
Age Approved applications per time period Total number of approved applications Total percentage of approved applications
9 Dec-19 to May-20 Jun-20 to Nov-20 Dec-20 to May-21
16-24 70 75 60 205 3%
25-34 215 280 265 760 12%
35-44 325 365 390 1,080 17%
45-65 910 970 1,005 2,885 45%
65 and over 485 520 510 1,515 23%
Unknown - - - - -
Total 2,005 2,215 2,230 6,450 100%
3. Number of approved applications by Physical or Mental Health Condition, 9 December 2019 to 31 May 2021
Physical or Mental Health Condition Approved applications per time period Total number of approved applications Total percentage of approved applications
9 Dec-19 to May-20 Jun-20 to Nov-20 Dec-20 to May-21
Yes 770 760 750 2,280 35%
No 985 1,135 1,120 3,240 50%
Prefer not to say 250 320 360 930 14%
Unknown - - - - -
Total 2,005 2,215 2,230 6,450 100%
4. Number of approved applications by Ethnicity, 9 December 2019 to 31 May 2021
Ethnicity Approved applications per time period Total number of approved applications Total percentage of approved applications
9 Dec-19 to May-20 Jun-20 to Nov-20 Dec-20 to May-21
White 1,870 2,035 1,995 5,900 91%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups - 5 15 20 0%
Asian 30 25 25 80 1%
African - 5 - 5 0%
Caribbean or Black - - - - -
Other ethnic group 5 - 5 10 0%
Prefer not to say 100 140 195 435 7%
Unknown - - - - -
Total 2,005 2,215 2,230 6,450 100%
5. Number of approved applications by Religion, 9 December 2019 to 31 May 2021
Religion Approved applications per time period Total number of approved applications Total percentage of approved applications
9 Dec-19 to May-20 Jun-20 to Nov-20 Dec-20 to May-21
None 925 1,050 1,025 3,000 47%
Roman Catholic 370 400 395 1,165 18%
Church of Scotland 390 400 385 1,175 18%
Other Christian 65 55 65 185 3%
Muslim 20 20 25 65 1%
Buddhist 5 5 - 10 0%
Sikh - 5 - 5 0%
Jewish - - - - -
Hindu - - - - -
Pagan 5 10 5 20 0%
Other 20 5 35 60 1%
Prefer not to say 200 265 300 765 12%
Unknown - - - - -
Total 2,005 2,215 2,230 6,450 100%
6. Number of approved applications by Urban Rural, 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2021
Urban Rural Approved applications per time period Total number of approved applications Total percentage of approved applications
Jun-20 to Nov-20 Dec-20 to May-21
1 -Large Urban Areas 960 935 1,895 43%
2 -Other Urban Area 835 875 1,710 38%
3 -Accessible Small Town 145 150 295 7%
4 -Remote Small Town 55 50 105 2%
5 -Accessible Rural Area 150 155 305 7%
6 -Remote Rural Area 70 65 135 3%
Unknown - Scottish - - - -
Unknown - Other - - - -
Total 2,215 2,230 4,445 100%

Notes – table 6

  • In Social Security Scotland client diversity and equalities analysis Urban Rural data is presented based on the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 8-fold. In Table 6 it is based on the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 6-fold. The 6-fold data in Table 6 has been calculated by aggregating the following items from the 8-fold data:
  • '4 - Remote Small Town', and '5 - Very Remote Small Town'
  • '7 - Remote Rural Area', and '8 - Very Remote Rural Area'
7. Number of approved applications by SIMD Quintile, 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2021
SIMD quintile Approved applications per time period Total number of approved applications Total percentage of approved applications
Jun-20 to Nov-20 Dec-20 to May-21
1 1,095 1,055 2,150 48%
2 550 630 1,180 27%
3 320 310 630 14%
4 175 170 345 8%
5 75 70 145 3%
Unknown – Scottish - - - -
Unknown – Other - - - -
Total 2,215 2,230 4,445 100%

Notes – table 7

  • In Social Security Scotland client diversity and equalities analysis SIMD data is presented based on SIMD Deciles. In Table 7 it is based on SIMD Quintiles. SIMD Quintiles data in Table 7 has been calculated by aggregating the following from the SIMD Deciles data:
  • Deciles 1 and 2 data, for Quintile 1
  • Deciles 3 and 4 data, for Quintile 2
  • Deciles 5 and 6 data, for Quintile 3
  • Deciles 7 and 8 data, for Quintile 4
  • Deciles 9 and 10 data, for Quintile 5.
8. Number of approved applications by Islands, 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2021
Islands Approved applications per time period Total number of approved applications Total percentage of approved applications
Jun-20 to Nov-20 Dec-20 to May-21
Scotland – Island 10 15 25 1%
Scotland – Mainland 2,205 2,215 4,420 99%
Scotland – Unknown - - - -
Other - - - -
Total 2,215 2,230 4,445 100%
9. Number of applications by Location of Funeral, all time – up to 31 March 2022
Location of funeral Withdrawn Approved Denied Total number of applications Total percentage of applications
Outside of UK 15 20 50 85 0%
Rest of UK 70 165 300 535 3%
Scotland 1,740 15,205 2,250 19,195 93%
Unknown 235 555 75 865 4%
Total 2,060 15,945 2,675 20,680 100%
10. Number of applications by Applicants' Relationship to Deceased, all time – up to 31 March 2022
Applicants' Relationship to Deceased Withdrawn Approved Denied Total number of applications Total percentage of applications
Partner 865 5,010 1,165 7,040 34%
Friend 35 330 60 425 2%
Child 565 5,915 810 7,290 35%
Parent 160 2,270 260 2,690 13%
Sibling 130 1,710 235 2,075 10%
Grandparent 5 40 10 55 0%
Grandchild 35 235 55 325 2%
Aunt or Uncle 5 75 15 95 0%
Cousin 10 70 10 90 0%
Niece or Nephew 30 295 50 375 2%
Unknown 215 - 5 220 1%
Total 2,060 15,945 2,675 20,680 100%
11. Application processing times per quarter, all time – up to 31 March 2022
Quarter Processed applications 10 working days or less 11-20 working days 21 working days or more
Sep-19 to Dec-19 1,560 66% 25% 10%
Jan-20 to Mar-20 1,725 57% 29% 13%
Apr-20 to Jun-20 2,140 49% 36% 15%
Jul-20 to Sep-20 2,030 62% 22% 16%
Oct-20 to Dec-20 1,920 60% 24% 16%
Jan-21 to Mar-21 2,450 41% 42% 17%
Apr-21 to Jun-21 1,945 38% 41% 22%
Jul-21 to Sep-21 2,295 49% 33% 18%
Oct-21 to Dec-21 1,825 16% 58% 26%
Jan-22 to Mar-22 2,475 6% 61% 33%

Notes: Table 11

  • Processed applications do not include cases where a re-determination was requested i.e. approximately 2.8% of processed applications.

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