Poverty in old age linked to surge in council funerals

Tackling deprivation among older people could reduce the number of funerals paid for by local authorities and NHS trusts, according to researchers from the ESRC Centre for Population Change and Connecting Generations at the University of Southampton.

The study found that publicly funded funerals were more common among men aged over 60 than women or younger people.

Using freedom of information requests, the team found the number of public health funerals – provided when no one can meet funeral costs – rose from 4,760 in 2014/15 to 7,020 in 2020/21. Figures from the Local Government Association showed demand rose by nearly 13% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.

According to the study, earlier estimates undercounted funerals arranged by NHS trusts, which accounted for nearly a quarter of the total – an average of 1,379 annually. While overall numbers rose, the rate per 1,000 deaths stayed largely stable except in London.

Higher funeral rates were recorded in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham and Bristol, as well as coastal towns such as Blackpool, Hastings and Hartlepool. These areas often have older populations and higher deprivation levels, the researchers said.

A key predictor was the Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index, with each one-unit rise linked to 56 more public health funerals per 1,000 deaths annually.

The Local Government Association estimates councils spent more than £21m on public health funerals between 2019/20 and 2022/23. The study estimated NHS trusts in England spend around £1.36m a year on the service.

Teresa McGowan, co-author of the study, said: “Public health funerals can signify the culmination of various disadvantages. Strategic investment in reducing deprivation, particularly among older populations, could lessen both the human and financial costs.”

She added that better data collection and national reporting could help authorities plan for rising demand amid the cost of living crisis.