For bereaved families whose loved ones haven't made any financial provisions for the future, the struggle to come up with the money is an ongoing issue.
According to SunLife's 2016 Cost of Dying report, the average cost of a basic funeral in the UK is £3,897, which can rise to £8,802 after adding flowers, headstones, and a reception.
With funeral costs rising far faster than the rate of inflation, families can be left with a considerable shortfall. And contrary to common misconceptions, the Government will not automatically foot the bill if you are unable to cover the cost. In fact, the Social Fund Funeral Payment which exists to help families on low incomes has been capped for the last 13 years and only 53% of claimants are successful.
At a time when funeral costs are high, personal savings are low, and Government aid is falling short, an increasing number of grieving family members are turning to crowdfunding to pay for their loved ones' funerals.
Crowdfunding allows people to raise money for a personal cause from friends, family, and strangers through internet platforms, including JustGiving, Go Fund Me, Crowdfunder and Go Get Funding.
In recent years there have been a number of high-profile crowdfunding campaigns launched specifically to help cover funeral costs. But as powerful as these campaigns can be when they're successful, they add an extra burden on friends and family members grieving the loss of a loved one especially if they're unsuccessful.
With a Golden Charter funeral plan, you pre-pay the cost of the funeral director's services included in your plan at today's prices. As well as protecting you against rising costs, this also provides peace of mind that you won't leave any financial burden on your family.
Golden Charter works with the largest network of independent funeral directors in the UK. For more information on arranging a funeral plan with Golden Charter, allowing you to choose from more than 3,300 independent funeral directors across the country, visit https://www.goldencharter.co.uk or call 0808 169 4534.
- UK applications 2012/13, Designing a Social Security System for Scotland: Funeral Payments, Citizens Advice Scotland, 2015
