I have a client who's husband died on 17th August. We have applied for pension credit for her which she has received £97 a week. I want to apply for a funeral payment from the social fund but have received conflicting advice.

The couple had £4800 in a joint bank account when the husband died. CPAG handbook (page 582)states that the funeral payment will be deducted by "any of the deceased assets available to you or a member of your family". Does this mean that the money in the joint bank account will be taken into account? Will the whole amount be taken into amount or just half of it?

None of the money in the account will be used to reduce the funeral payment because it is in a joint account and so becomes the widow's property on her husband's death.(The capital rule for funeral payments and sure start maternity grants was abolished for claims made on or after 8 October 2001.)If your client and her husband had had £2400 each in separate accounts, her money would have been disregarded, but his,as the 'deceased's estate', would have been taken into account aginst the amount of funeral payment allowed.

Provided that your client's late husband did not have any other accounts, insurances etc.,then she should be OK.Keep an eye on the time scale though as she only has up to 3 months from the date of the funeral in which to make her claim.