Funeral poverty is a phrase most people have never heard — until it happens to them.
It’s when someone dies and their family simply can’t afford to lay them to rest. No savings, no support, and nowhere to turn. Just rising costs, overdue bills, and a devastating loss made even more painful by the stress of money.
A leading UK direct cremation provider is warning that the situation is on the verge of getting worse. With the financial market on edge and the next Budget full of unknowns, they believe families already having to buckle their belts could soon find themselves completely unable to afford a funeral at all.
And the numbers are backing them up.
The average funeral in the UK now costs over £4,200 — and that’s before flowers, transport or a wake. Government support, through the Funeral Expenses Payment, hasn’t kept up. It pays around £1,000, and only if you meet strict eligibility criteria. That leaves many families thousands of pounds short, turning...
