Sunday, May 06, 2012

Big discrepancy in reported funeral grant figures

According to Stuff "Department of Work and Income statistics show in the 12 months to the end of March, 5473 funeral grants were made, totalling $9.8 million.....In 2011, Work and Income issued 5412 grants totalling $9.3m, and in 2010, 5562 grants cost $9.3m. "

Check out this MSD table which shows that in the financial year 2009/10 only 26 funeral grants were made.

I have searched 'funeral' in the latest MSD Statistical report and no other results are found.

I am intrigued because the Stuff figure sounds far more plausible.

What this highlights is the difference between statistical information gained under the OIA (where I think it was sourced) and what is in the public domain.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Of course it's completely ridiculous that there are "funeral grants" at all. If you don't care enough about yourself and your family to make provision for your funeral, why should I have to pay for your choice?

Mozart was buried outside the city wall in a pauper's grave. Good enough for a genius - more than good enough for any bludger!