Section 7. The department shall provide to aged and disabled residents of the commonwealth under this chapter a program of social services as enumerated under section two of chapter eighteen. In addition to the other benefits authorized by this chapter, the department may provide to such recipients grants of assistance in cases of fire, flood, or other disaster. The department may pay a sum not exceeding eleven hundred dollars for the funeral and burial of a recipient provided that cost of funeral and burial does not exceed fifteen hundred dollars and there are insufficient resources to pay for the cost of such funeral and burial. Any resources of the recipient shall be deducted from the maximum cost of the funeral and burial allowable hereunder and the difference, subject to the limitation set forth in this paragraph, shall be paid by the department.