The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2021 - screening

Under the current Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005, Funeral Expenses Payments (“FEP”) can be made, provided the relevant conditions set out in the regulations are met, for funerals that take place in EU member states, EEA countries and Switzerland. The UK is not mentioned separately in the regulations and thus, since 1 January 2021, making FEP claimed by eligible persons (EU/EEA nationals or their family members) for funerals taking place in the UK would involve an ultra-vires interpretation of the regulations. The regulations will therefore be amended to restore the policy intention that FEP should also be available where the funeral is to take place within the UK.