SIR - I am writing further to the letter in last week's Gazette from J Mould headed Funeral Grant.

Your correspondent stated that the CAB had confirmed that "if a man during his working life has paid his National Health Stamp for 25 years (or more) on the event of his death, his widow (or dependent relative I suppose) can apply for a grant of £2,000 towards funeral expenses."

I think your correspondent is referring to the bereavement payment. The rules are not quite as suggested. A sum of £2,000 may be claimed and used for any purpose whatsoever (not just for the funeral,) but only by widows and widowers who are under pension age when their spouse died or whose spouse died without being entitled to a state pension.

This means that people bereaved when over retirement age will usually not be entitled to this payment. The payment cannot be claimed by other dependent relatives. It is indeed dependent on payment of National Insurance by the deceased person but the requirement is much less than 25 years.

People who are responsible for a funeral bill may be able to get help with the bill from the Social Fund, administered by the Department of Work and Pensions. However, entitlement depends on a number of matters, mainly relating to the financial position of the person who has to pay the bill.

Adam Cain, Bureau Manager, Stroud Citizens Advice Bureau