Marie Curie calls for Funeral Payment to double

Next Scottish Government must address funeral poverty says charity

Marie Curie is calling on the next Scottish Government to commit to more than double the level of Funeral Payment when it has power over the benefit in 2017.

Calling for the commitment today (Wednesday 23 March 2016) to ensure it is a top priority following the devolution of benefits, the charity which cares for people living with a terminal illness is adamant that no Scot on a low income and receiving benefits or tax credits and whose loved one dies from a terminal illness, should be forced into debt to pay for a funeral.

The current funeral cap is £700 (plus burial/cremation). Last reviewed 13 years ago, the cap fails to take into account the rising cost of funerals – an 80% increase in the last decade[i]. The average cost of a funeral in Scotland is £3,550[ii] with an estimated 451 national assistance act funerals in Scotland in 2013.[iii]  

The call comes as the charity releases a new report published today (Wednesday 23 March 2016) The Meaning of Funeral Poverty an exploratory study by the Social Policy Research Unit University of York and sponsored by Marie Curie. Participants in this study did not reach a single, measurable definition[iv] but there was agreement about the main components of funeral poverty and the need for further rigorous research.

Based on UK figures it’s estimated that over 6,000 Scots applied for a funeral payment to the Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund and a third of all applications are rejected in Scotland[v]. The report highlights that we can expect more people to have problems in paying for funerals and it seems unlikely that there will be substantial increases in the amount of monetary support available.  

Richard Meade, Marie Curie Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scotland, said: “Funeral poverty is a very real issue affecting families right now across Scotland who are already coping with the death of a loved one.

“The current amount available is woefully inadequate and must be set at a level that is realistic to the rising costs of funerals. While we recognise that the Scottish Government has committed to review the Funeral Payment, we need reassurance for families that this is done quickly and that no one should be forced into unnecessary debt.”

The recent debate on social security revealed that the Scottish Government’s benefits system will be founded on treating people with dignity and respect.

“Dignity and respect are at the heart of a fitting send off,” continues Richard Meade, “We need to ensure that dignity extends to the loved ones of those that die too. The physiological and emotional strain it puts on families when their grief is still very new and quite overwhelming is a huge concern.”

Case study

Tommy Burns from Kilbirnie and his younger brother Martin paid for their father’s funeral in February. Tam Burns from Possilpark was diagnosed with a tumour in his lung in 2015 and developed heart failure before he sadly passed away on 3 February. Tommy borrowed £2,000 to pay for the funeral costs which totalled £3,400. He says: “The money we borrowed was all in my name and I was really worried as I couldn’t make all of the payment amount. I tried selling some of the items from dad’s house and there wasn’t much there but it helped a little. I borrowed from close friends and used some savings but it was a struggle. I think the initial cost of funerals is shocking. I think everyone would find it hard to come up with those kind of funds there and then. We did the best we could for dad’s send off and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”

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