The Inequalities of Bereavement: Social, Spatial and Spend

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The impacts of bereavement have become a recent focus of government investigations due to the rise in 'funeral poverty'. The cost of funerals has increased by 37% since 2008 (1), and an increasing number of reports suggest those on low incomes are falling into serious levels of debt following a death. Whilst inequalities exist at the household level, there are also societal level factors that need to be addressed. Structural issues within the funeral industry have resulted in inequalities in costs along regional and national boundaries of the United Kingdom. This research will explore these inequalities through a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to better understand the impact on the behaviour and decisionmaking processes of the bereaved, and experiences of those within the industry and policy-makers.