A recent article by James Dixon, published on 29 October, looks at what happens when people can’t afford to pay for a funeral, and features our Down to Earth service.
The piece shares the experiences of Paul and Karen, who both came to us for support. Paul couldn’t afford his father’s funeral, and Karen lost both her parents within six weeks. It also draws on what Lindesay Mace, co-manager of Down to Earth, sees every day: families pressed for payment at the worst possible time, and the distress, guilt and shame that can follow. As Lindesay puts it, funeral poverty “can rob people of their ability to grieve.”
The article also looks at the wider picture. According to SunLife’s 2026 Cost of Dying Report, the average simple attended funeral now costs around £3,828, and Down to Earth has supported 6% more people this year. It highlights our call for the portion of the Funeral Expenses Payment that can be used for funeral director fees to rise from £1,000 to £2,259, with broader eligibility, along with minimum standards for public health funerals and stronger oversight of the sector.
Read the full article on The Big Issue.