What cost the price of a good send off? The challenges for British state funeral policy

Abstract

The period immediately after death has often been overlooked in social policy, particularly in relation to funerals. The challenges presented by projected increases in death rate owing to the ageing population mean that greater attention to state support for funding funerals is required. This paper examines issues around the present provision of state support for funerals via the Social Fund Funeral Payment, exploring potential failures in the way in which the payment meets people's needs. It concludes that considerable change is needed to state funeral policy to ensure that those from low income backgrounds are able to have a 'good send off'.

Losing a partner: the varying financial and practical impacts of bereavement in different sociodemographic groups

“…This research has shown that the financial impacts of death do not peak in the first year, but appear to intensify over time to be most detrimental 1–3 years after the death. Lower income in the first 12 months, combined with costs such as funeral expenses, may be offset by either increased benefit payments (such as Bereavement Allowance or Widowed Parent's Allowance7), gifts, donations or insurance payouts. After these payments cease, the long-term consequences of lower income and depletion of savings start to be felt.…”

“…The effects of bereavement on financial and practical well-being are also not well documented. Previous studies have shown that bereavement can be a trigger for poverty, increased occurrence of debt6 7 and the need to claim income support8 and homelessness 9 10. The effects of bereavement are highly dependent on many sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, location and employment status, and are influenced by legal status, benefits, insurance and tax, which are country-specific 11.…”

Bodies and ceremonies: is the UK funeral industry still fit for purpose?

“…Its original value was sufficient to pay for a simple funeral, but over the years it failed to keep up with increases in funeral costs, and the grant was abolished in 1987. In its place, the Department for Work and Pensions' discretionary Funeral Payment Scheme now covers less than half the cost of a simple funeral, and the decision to award it is not made till many weeks after the funeral; it is therefore impossible for a hard-pressed family to make an informed decision as to what kind of funeral it can or cannot afford (Foster & Woodthorpe, 2013). At the time of writing, funeral poverty is increasing and has been raised as an issue by reform groups, the media and politicians (Work & Pensions Select Committee, 2016).…”

An analysis of regulation and governance for funeral social fund in Malaysia

“…According to Foster et al (2013), in the United Kingdom, the government has provided a Social Fund since 1988 as part of social policy for supporting people from a low-income background. Currently, it is situated within the remit of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).…”