Today the Scottish Government launches an improved funeral benefit aimed at reducing funeral poverty for around 4000 families annually.
Tom Woodhouse welcomes the move but cautions the need for families to compare like-for-like pricing. Providers and costs vary widely with many offering low cost funerals which do not include basic features such as viewing or a service.
Having looked after generations of families in Edinburgh and wider afield, Tom Woodhouse offer packages that reflect the true cost of funerals while also providing affordable alternatives for non-attended events through to elaborate send-offs.
Families can keep costs down as watchdogs say charges at independent firms are generally ‘significantly lower than some of the large national chains of funeral directors’1.
1 Competition and Markets Authority. March 2019. Funeral Market Study: Final Report. Pg. 119.
The Funeral Support Payment replaces the current Funeral Expense Payment for people living in Scotland 16 September. Information on eligibility and how to apply will be available at mygov.scot/benefits.
And click here for our free checklist of what’s involved in planning a funeral.
