Why dying is becoming more expensive

IT is one of those uncomfortable facts that people would really rather not think about – their own death and how they'll pay for it. And yet given the soaring costs of funerals and cremations, knowing just how much financial pain – as well as grief – your death will cause your family is becoming a serious concern.

The average price of a funeral is expected to rise by more than 40 per cent over the next five years. According to a Mintel report, the average cost of a funeral in 2007 was £2390 and this is predicted to soar to £3350 by 2012.

Further research by the Department for Work and Pensions also shows that Edinburgh is already the most expensive place to die, with the cost of a standard funeral reaching as much as £3200 – up to twice as much as in other cities.

Indeed the price of an adult interment in Edinburgh has increased by more than 20 per cent in three years, and now costs £880, compared to £219 in East Lothian and £330 in Midlothian. Cremation costs slightly less, but will still set you back £550.

And if you have the audacity to be buried on Friday afternoons or Saturdays, the cost is £900, while on a Sunday it's now £1100. There is also a new charge of £160 for burying cremated remains in the Mortonhall Garden of Remembrance.

Admittedly prices are historically higher in Edinburgh because of the price of land. Currently Edinburgh has 39 council-run graveyards, but only around 2000 spaces are available, although plans have been approved for a new site at Craigmillar Castle Country Park to provide 5000 new burial spaces.

As a result the council believes its prices are justified as they reflect the need to invest in the new cemetery and enable it to continue to maintain the other cemeteries and graveyards in perpetuity.

But why are the other costs of dying so high? According to the city's undertakers, few people realise just how much is involved when someone passes away – the funeral director's fees are just the start. On top are doctors' fees, the cremation or burial fees, newspaper notices, ashes caskets, a grave site, headstone, flowers and catering.

For the most basic of funerals the deceased will make their final journey in a simple robe and a veneer coffin, there will be no viewing, and the hearse will only drive within a 15-mile limit. The next step up would pay for a solid wooden coffin, removal of the deceased, the hearse, embalming and other professional services such as arranging for the cremation or burial, obtaining statutory forms from doctors, preparing documentation, sorting obituary notices, caring for flowers, securing a priest or minister and making telephone calls. Then there can be costs for headstones and their engraving, or ashes caskets.

All of these costs are, of course, subject to the funeral home that a person chooses. A spokesman for Scotmid Funeral Services, says: "Costs are rising but that doesn't mean someone can't have a dignified funeral within the budget they have. If people come to us and say 'we didn't realise it would cost so much' we sit with them and go through their budget and make sure they have a funeral that is affordable, but as dignified as they would like. You can't compromise on that.

"The problem is, though, that the rising costs are mostly outwith our control. It's things like burial and cremation fees – which are paid at cost by clients, funeral directors don't make any kind of profit on those – which are set by the local authority, and also oil price rises, wage increases and so on. All of that unfortunately adds to the expense."

Logan Steele, general manager of Age Concern Enterprises, admits inflation plays a factor, as do council fees – but stresses that with forward planning the financial worry can be removed. "People really have to think about planning ahead. Planning a funeral in advance means that the family is spared the stress of organising it whilst they're grieving," he says.

"Importantly, it also means that the deceased can have the funeral they wanted – favourite hymn, preferred flowers and the route for the cortege are all very personal choices.

"Knowing that their loved one has had the funeral they desired often brings comfort to relatives. It also makes good financial sense to pre-plan, as the trend in rising costs is set to continue, which is why we offer people the opportunity to put their affairs in order in a friendly, supportive environment."

Help the Aged is also concerned about rising costs, and a spokesman says: "We are surprised at how expensive a simple, dignified burial is in Edinburgh. Although there is help available from the Government for people on certain benefits, it only provides up to £700 towards funeral costs and has not increased since 2003.

"We believe the Government's funeral payment should be raised to cover increases in funeral costs and should take account of local variations. It also emphasises the importance of planning ahead for your funeral and investing in a funeral plan if you can afford to."

There are two other rather more bizarre reasons for cost increases – when it comes to cremation. Obesity is apparently forcing crematoriums to adapt to accommodate over-sized coffins. Some coffins "the size of wardrobes", apparently prove too large to fit in the cremators and these are having to be replaced with wider versions, costing councils thousands a time.

And crematoriums are also having to install new filtering systems at a cost of £500,000 – because of the mercury in the teeth of the deceased. As it's a toxic chemical, crematoria have to ensure the mercury from amalgam fillings doesn't escape into the atmosphere.

So as well as planning ahead, perhaps the way to keep funeral costs down is to stay slim, have good dental health, and get buried in a cardboard coffin.

Age Concern's Funeral Planning Week runs from November 3 to 7. The charity is offering people the chance to discuss their options with informed, friendly advisors all week at Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh. For more information call 0845-833 0758.