Funeral Costs In UK Increased By 3.8% To Rs 9 Lakh Since 2021: Reports

Supermarket prices and rent are soaring along with crippling interest rates. This is putting immense financial pressure across the world. But it’s the Brits who are getting affected the worst because apart from barely being able to afford necessities, they are now finding it difficult to grieve for their loved ones due to increased funeral costs. The worry has increased so much that people are just keeping the bodies of their dead relatives at the burial site to ensure that the last rites can be performed at a lesser charge.

As per reports, the total cost, including the funeral rates and fees has increased by 3.8 per cent to £9,200 (approx Rs 9.6 lakh) in the United Kingdom since 2021. This has caused chaos among many families who are trying to figure out a way to grieve and bid adieu to their beloved family members. As per SunLife’s reports, the overall cost further surged to £9,658 (approx Rs 10 lakh) in 2023 – the highest figure to date.

Now, Brits are facing not just the cost of living crisis- but also dying crisis. Further, dead bodies can be kept in a hospital for just 21 days along with strict restrictions on grants. On top of this, the undertakers demand half of the funeral charge upfront, which has left many struggling to bury their loved ones. The average price of a funeral is £4,000 (approx Rs 4 lakh).

This has left many with no choice but to opt for the type of funeral they would like. As reported by the Mirror, on average, families had to manage somehow to get £2,716 (approx Rs 2.8 lakh) to cover the costs. If they tried to claim the benefits of the Government’s Funeral Expenses Payment, it turned out that only a few are eligible for such grants.

Apart from this, there are Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) grants, but again only a few can claim it. But the more pressing issue here is that even if someone is eligible, it takes anywhere about three to six months to get the money, pay half the funeral charge to the undertaker and at the same time get the body out of the hospital in 21 days. This has caused debt, splitting up of families and fallouts.