Some people are struggling to cope with funeral costs

Action taken to help people in Kent and Medway strugging in financial downturn

As personal debts rise, saving for things like funeral costs is being ignored and some of those left behind are finding it hard to come up with the minimum of £2,000 to pay for services.

But help is at hand in the shape of Kent Savers, a credit union that has launched a pilot scheme in the county with firms like John Weir Funeral Directors, which has offices in Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham.

Funeral directors in Kent who are members of the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, known as SAIF, have been chosen to launch the scheme to provide financial assistant to those who are struggling to pay for a funeral.

They will work with Kent Savers, which is a not-for-profit organisation devoted to providing financial services to the people of Kent and Medway.

Kent Savers delivers loans at especially reasonable rates to those in need and is dedicated to reducing exploitation by illegal and high cost lenders.

Its chief officer John Fowler said: “Those who are in distress offer the death of a loved one are especially vulnerable. We want to assure them they are safe and treated fairly. We are delighted to be working in partnership with SAIF.”

John Weir: “We are very aware that some people faced with having to make funeral arrangement are very concerned about the costs involved. Hopefully our members working in conjunction with Kent Savers will be able to provide additional support to the bereaved in these difficult economic times.”

He said the lowest cost funeral these days is around £2,000, and because many people are already struggling to cope with bills, any consideration given to funeral costs is simply put the back of the mind.

Mr Weir said: “There are other ways of getting help. The Department for World and Pensions do pick up some of the cost of a funeral, but there are lots of hoops to jump through. Eligibility is a minefield but it is possible.

“Someone paying for a funeral could then borrow the balance from Kent Savers.

“Or they could borrow all the money from Kent Savers at a very reasonable interest rate which is better than going to some of these loan companies that can charge massive rates.”

Local councils also have an obligation to carry out funerals under the 1984 Public Health Act, said Mr Weir.

Kent Savers said a typical £2,000 loan over two years for someone with a good credit rating would repaid at around £99 per month at a rate of 18.72 per cent. That could go down as low as £50 per month over five years.

For more information and a quote, visit www.kentsavers.co.uk.