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Subject to certain provisions, the death grant payable in respect
of a person aged over eighteen years if £20. 0s. 0d, but if his
interment is carried out by a local authority, the latter can only
receive three-fifths, i.e. £12. 0s. 0d. of the death grant. (Reference*
The National Insurance (Death Grant) Regulations, 1949.) Surely, if
a definite death grant is laid down as a contributor's right, assuming
that his contributions to National Insurance have been fully maintained
a local authority in assuming the role of a "liable relative" should
receive the full death grant (£20).
Shortly after the interment of a person through official channels,
an undertaker will submit an account therefore Assuming his charge
total £15. 0s. 0d, the Council are immediately faced with a deficit of
£3. 0s. 0d. because they will only receive a payment of £12. 0s. 0d.
from the Ministry of National Insurance.In addition to this,
cognisance must be taken of expenditure connected with the performing
of items (i) to (iv) above.
The payment of the scheduled grant in full by the Ministry of
National Insurance to a local authority would obviate any financial
loss by the latter, and at the same time remove the possible existence
of a feeling that although a person has been fully insured throughout
his working life, he is, after all, to be given a funeral partly at
the expense of disinterested persons. Many people of advanced age
gain some measure of comfort from the knowledge that they will in the
passage of time be laid to rest clear of any obligation to others.