43% suffer for expense of funerals

MORE than four in 10 adults have suffered debt or hardship after paying towards funeral costs.

A poll found that those who have contributed towards a funeral parted with £1,797.40 of their own money on average.

The send-off resulted in £1,951.90 debt for those who have consequently ended up in hardship.

Almost half of those polled (47%) had to sell a sentimental item to cover funeral expenses.

Dan Garrett, CEO of cremation provider Farewill, which commissioned the study, said: “A death in the family could push grieving families into poverty as they struggle to cover the funeral bill.”