The death of a loved one is hard enough without having to worry about how you’ll pay for their funeral. But this is the unfortunate reality for many people as the average cost of a UK funeral is now £4,417, a 3.4 % rise on the previous year. And according to the annual Sun Life Cost Of Dying report, the full cost of dying can approach an eye-watering £10,000 once the cost of the wake, headstone and other send off costs are added.
It’s not surprising then, that one in 10 people took on debt to pay for a loved one’s funeral, with the average amount of debt taken on by individuals rising to an all-time high of £1,744. Of those who struggled with funeral costs 28% borrowed money from friends and family and one in five (21%) took on debt. Sadly, one in 10 had to sell off possessions to give their loved ones a decent send-off.
Fortunately credit unions in the UK have long recognised the need to support the families of members who have passed away. At TransaveUK, should a member die Bereavement Cover is provided free of charge that will repay most outstanding Transave loans. In addition a lump sum Funeral Grant (currently £1,250) is paid by Transave to the member’s nominated beneficiary.
Members qualify for Bereavement cover immediately on joining Transave. It is of course important that members keep their beneficiary details up to date at all times. This can be done via their online account and app or by contacting the Customer Service team on 0114 243 8437.
Free and confidential advice if you are struggling with the cost of organising a funeral is also offered by the Down to Earth Charity: http://www.quackersocialaction.org.uk.
