1. I can’t afford to die: Managing the
cost of dying in an ageing society
Tuesday 21st January 2014
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

2. Welcome
Baroness Sally Greengross
Chief Executive
ILC-UK
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

3. The Cost of Dying in an Ageing
Society
Dr Kate Woodthorpe
Lecturer in Sociology, Department of Social and
Policy Sciences
University of Bath
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

4. Institute for Policy Research
The Cost of Dying in an Ageing Society
Dr Kate Woodthorpe
Lecturer in Sociology, Department of Social and Policy Sciences
21st January 2014
International Longevity Centre, London.
k.v.woodthorpe@bath.ac.uk
01225 386852

5. Institute for Policy Research
Brief outline
• Building up a body of evidence
• Our own research
• Key findings
• Focus for today: issues and outcomes
• Questions for discussion

6. Institute for Policy Research
Building up a body of evidence
• Knowledge gap: experiential learning
• Sun Life Direct Cost of Dying work
• Corden et al (University of York): financial implications of the death
of a partner
• Death and social policy
• Policy areas, inheritance, debt, financial literacy, guidance and support
• Death and the family

7. Institute for Policy Research
Recent developments
• NCPC, Dying Matters and National Bereavement Alliance report
• ‘Life after death: six steps to improve support in bereavement’
• Calling for national review of impact of financial, administrative and
economic changes on those who have been bereaved
• Available here:
http://dyingmatters.org/sites/default/files/Life%20After%20Death%2
0FINAL(1).pdf

8. Institute for Policy Research
Our own research
• 2012: qualitative study into DWP Social Fund Funeral Payment,
with international comparison
• 2013: qualitative study into preparing for older age
• Independent academic research funded by Sun Life Direct
• Led to a Parliamentary Roundtable November 2012
• Funeral poverty manifesto

9. Institute for Policy Research
State support
• Department for Work
and Pensions Social
Fund Funeral
Payment
•
•
•
Timing
Debt
Family Assessment
• Public Health
Funerals
•
•
•
Unable or unwilling
Choice
Rhetoric change?

10. Institute for Policy Research
Preparing for older age
• Variation in attitudes: pragmatists, hopefuls and fatalists
• Obligation and responsibility
• Sharing of resources
• Trust in advice and guidance, and each other
• Blended and fluid families

11. Institute for Policy Research
Focus for today: the issues
•
Understanding costs
•
ILC areas
•
Financial
•
Older consumers
•
Social
•
Economics of age
•
Relational
•
Work and retirement
•
Individual
•
Intergenerational

12. Institute for Policy Research
Focus for today: the outcomes
• 3 levels: macro, intermediate and micro
• Macro: policy and national guidance, commercial sector
• Intermediate: localised guidance and support, local businesses
• Micro: family and individuals

13. Institute for Policy Research
Questions for discussion
• What are the costs associated with dying, the end of life and
bereavement?
• What is the reality of funeral poverty and how can this be
addressed?
• Can the cost of dying, end of life and bereavement be reduced?
• What is the role/responsibility of the public, private and third
sectors?

14. Institute for Policy Research
Publication details
•
Sun Life Direct (2013) Cost of Dying Report (Bristol: Sun Life Direct)
•
Sun Life Direct (2012) Affording a funeral: Social Fund Funeral Payments (Bristol: Sun Life
Direct)
•
Both available here: http://www.sunlifedirect.co.uk/About-Sun-Life-Direct/Press-Office/Research/
•
Woodthorpe, K., Rumble, H. and Valentine, C. (2013) ‘Putting ‘the grave’ into social policy: state
support for funerals in contemporary UK society’, Journal of Social Policy, 42 (3): 605 – 622.
•
Foster, L. and Woodthorpe, K. (2013) ‘What cost the price of a good send off? The challenges
for British state funeral policy’, Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 21 (1): 77 – 89.
•
Valentine, C. and Woodthorpe, K. (forthcoming) ‘From the cradle to the grave: funeral welfare
from an international perspective’, Social Policy and Administration.
www.bath.ac.uk/ipr

15. Institute for Policy Research
Centre for Death and Society (CDAS)
• The UK’s only centre devoted to the study and research of social
aspects of death, dying and bereavement
• Recent research: Engaging young people with death; Bereavement
through family members’ substance misuse; Digital Inheritance;
Future Cemeteries
Contact details:
www.bath.ac.uk/cdas
cdas@bath.ac.uk
01225 386949

16. The cost of dying: long-term
Projections
Ben Franklin
Research Fellow
ILC-UK
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

17. The cost of dying: long-term projections
Ben Franklin, International Longevity Centre – UK
@ilcuk
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

18. Number of deaths across England and Wales (historic and projected)
650,000
550,000
Historic deaths
Projected deaths
500,000
450,000
400,000
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025
2027
2029
2031
2033
2035
2037
Number of deaths
600,000
Source: ONS and own calculations
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

19. Percentage change in the number of deaths in England and Wales
relative to 2013
20%
15%
10%
5%
-5%
Source: ONS and own calculations
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
2037
2036
2035
2034
2033
2032
2031
2030
2029
2028
2027
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
0%

20. Due to rising costs and an increase in number of deaths, total
cost of dying in England and Wales could triple by 2037
11
10
Actual cost
9
£ billions
8
Projections assuming costs
rise in line with 2013-18
expectations (3.9%)
Projections assuming costs
rise by 2.8% (trend since
2008)
Projections assuming costs
rise in line with inflation
(2%)
7
6
5
4
3
2
2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034 2036
Source: ONS, SunLife Direct Cost of Dying Report and own calculations
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

21. Many thanks
Ben Franklin
Research Fellow
International Longevity Centre
benfranklin@ilcuk.org.uk
0207 340 0440
Twitter: @ilcuk
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

22. I can’t afford to die
Debbie Kerslake
CEO
Cruse Bereavement Care
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

23. I can’t afford to die
Debbie Kerslake
Cruse Bereavement Care

24. Somewhere to turn when someone dies
Cruse:
• Offers support, advice and information to
children, young people and adults
• Enhances society’s care of bereaved
people

25. Somewhere to turn when someone dies

26. Current Issues
Pre-bereavement
costs
The Social
Fund
Death Certification
Reforms
The Bedroom
Tax
Rising
Funeral
Poverty
Changes to
Bereavement
Benefits

27. Key Points
The economic costs of bereavement:
• Are increasing
• Will affect many more people as the death rate
rises
• Have a long-term impact well beyond paying for
the funeral
• Impact on mental and physical health
Urgent action is needed

28. Funeral Planning
Dean Lamble
Managing Director
Sun Life Direct
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

29. Funeral Planning
ILC
January 21st
London

30. Issues
What is the problem?
 Research shows us 1 in 5 report
a shortfall in paying for a
funeral
 That shortfall we estimate to
be c£1,200
 18% of people reported the
cost of funerals was causing
concern
How are customer trying to solve
it?
 27% savings
 25% borrowed from
friend/relative
 22% put it on a credit card
 13% took out a loan
 10% sold belongings
Funeral poverty is a real key concern and the quicker people start
planning, the better the chances to help solve the issue
30
22/01/2014

31. What can the insurance industry do?
What does a solution need to
have?
Options available
 Affordability
 Pre-paid funeral plans
 Discipline
 Insurance (Guaranteed
Over 50 plans)
 Range of solutions
 Protection against inflation
What do customers need to do?
 Plan, plan, plan
 Protection insurance
 Savings
How can the insurance
industry help
 Save/set aside money
 Working across industryfuneral providers, insurance,
government
 Start early
 Educate customers
 Budget
 Promote options
31
22/01/2014

32. I can’t afford to die: Managing the cost
of dying in an ageing society
Elizabeth Procter
Palliative Care Services Manager
Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying

33. I can’t afford to die: Managing the
cost of dying in an ageing society
Tuesday 21st January 2014
This event is kindly supported by the Institute for Policy Research
and Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
#costofdying