Families need help to bury their loved ones
Council has to help them beat ‘ funeral poverty’
Dozens of skint families have pleaded for help to bury their loved ones in the last five years.
Renfrewshire Council stepped in to help struggling mourners fund 35 services.
Experts warn soaring costs are pushing those on low incomes into “funeral poverty”.
The Fair Funerals campaign calls for clearer pricing structures.
A spokesman said: “These costs are placing an unbearable burden on the already stretched finances of bereaved families, many of whom are getting into serious, unmanageable debt when they lose someone they love.
“When we’re grieving we don’t act like savvy consumers.
“This is a big problem in an industry where there are such huge differences in what funeral directors charge for the same goods and services.
“And to make matters worse, it’s difficult to find clear, comparable information about what funerals really cost.”
Local authorities have a duty to pay for service costs for those who have no living relatives.
Renfrewshire Council has earmarked £50,000 to help pay for services.
Bosses stumped- up almost £40,000 to cover public funeral costs over the last five years.
They stepped in after experts warned funeral prices are increasing at four times the rate of inflation.
Fair Funerals say too many are struggling to pay for send-offs due to “unmanageable debt”.
But activists also insist there can also be an emotional toll due to the “shame and perceived stigma” of not being able to provide a “decent” burial.
Research by the group reveals funeral costs have risen 112 per cent across the UK over the last 13 years.
It says the average price for cremation stands at £ 3,596 or £4,561 for a burial.
Council chiefs have committed to waiving fees for funerals for those aged under 16.
Support claims for funeral fees increased by more than a third between 2002 and 2015.
Westminster also provides a grant for individuals on low incomes who need help to pay for a funeral.
The cash covers the cost of a lair and interment or cremation fees.
It also covers up to £ 700 towards other costs such as a coffin, hearse, undertaker fees and flowers for those on benefits.
Renfrewshire Council does not offer a cremation service.
It does provide burial lairs, at a price of £459, and the cost for interment is £479.
These are among the lowest in the country and £300 less than the national average.
A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said: “We are committed to keeping the cost of funerals as low as possible and provide services to support families through what is obviously an extremely difficult time. The cost of lairs and interments in Renfrewshire are currently amongst the lowest in Scotland.
“We also removed burial charges in this year’s budget for families who lose a child under the age of 16 and are working with local funeral directors to establish an affordable Respectful Funeral Service to support families.”
Fair Funerals found 96 per cent of online directors surveyed did not list their prices on their websites.
The National Association of Funeral Directors’ own research shows that 85 per cent of those who have purchased a funeral in the past five years want costs online.
Funeral directors are privatelyrun operations and the local authority has no power over charges.