‘Emotional and monetary’ strain of funeral charges | EUROtoday

On Jan 20, 2026

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

When Sue Paige’s dad and mom died six months aside she had no method to pay for his or her funerals

BBC Sue Paige, a woman in a blue long-sleeved too is holding a collage of black and white photos of her parents — When Sue Paige’s dad and mom died six months aside she had no method to pay for his or her funerals

Families are going through rising emotional and monetary pressure as funeral prices proceed to rise, a charity has warned.

Quaker Social Action (QSA), which helps households going through monetary hardship throughout bereavement, mentioned it had obtained a 20% rise in calls from these needing help.

Sue Paige, from Tamworth, turned to the charity for assist after each of her dad and mom died inside six months, leaving her unable to afford their funerals.

“It was stressful, not just for myself but for my family as well,” she mentioned.

Family handout A black and white photo of Dave and Pam Brazier, a young man in a white shirt and tie and a woman in a light-coloured cardigan are stood together in a busy street and smiling at the camera. — Dave and Pam Brazier each had dementia

Her mom and father, Dave and Pam Brazier, each had dementia and all of their financial savings have been spent on their care dwelling value, she mentioned.

Ms Paige’s father died in August 2024 and when she tried to get authorities help for his funeral on behalf of her mom, she was declined as a result of her mom was not receiving pension credit score.

She turned to the Down to Earth scheme run by the QSA charity, which helped present £1,370 to fund a modest funeral.

When her mom died in February final yr, the household have been in a position to qualify for a authorities grant enabling a cremation however and not using a service.

According to monetary providers firm SunLife, the common value of a easy funeral burial has risen to £4,758 with a easy cremation costing £3,518

Funeral director Carly Baker says her firm has tailor-made providers to assist cut back prices

Carly Baker, MG Evans & Sons, Family Funeral Directors, is wearing a black blazer and chequered top and is stood in front of a light pine coffin with gold handles and a plant on the left of the image — Funeral director Carly Baker says her firm has tailor-made providers to assist cut back prices

One in seven households mentioned they’ve suffered monetary hardship due to funeral prices and have needed to reduce on issues like heating and meals, in keeping with the charity.

Lindsay Mace, of QSA mentioned: “Funeral poverty is a significant issue that often flies under the radar maybe because we don’t like to think about death.

“But it’s actually important and the influence that it could actually have on individuals’s psychological well being and their capability to grieve will be actually important,” she added.

Some funeral directors like MG Evans and Sons in Tamworth, have recognised the difficulties and have introduced new services to help lower the cost including direct cremation.

This is when the body is cremated without a service and the ashes are returned to the family.

“But they will even have a direct cremation that’s attended,” said Carly Baker, of the company, “so they might nonetheless have the ability to see their family members within the chapel they’d simply have a shorter period of time so do not must spend a lot cash.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0kep1kvn8ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss