Marie Curie launches new campaign to ‘Make “Sadmin” Simple’

• More than 680,000 people in the UK struggle with "sadmin" every year
• 1.2 million people receive post addressed to their dead loved one every year
• 100,000 bereaved people in the UK each year have still not been able to close all their loved one's accounts after 12 months

Polling from end of life charity Marie Curie reveals that thousands of people in the UK struggle with end of life and death admin (so called "sadmin[1]") each year.

Analysis by Marie Curie found that around 680,000 people across the UK are likely to experience difficulties with practical or administrative tasks related to someone who is dying or died every year. Whilst 100,000 bereaved people each year have still not been able to close all their loved one's accounts 12 months after a death. Distressingly, it is estimated that 1.2million bereaved people receive post addressed to a dead loved one every year[2].

The findings follow a report by The UK Commission on Bereavement titled Bereavement is everyone's business, which found that 61% of people experience difficulties with at least one practical or administrative task after the death of a loved one.

Hayley Smith, shares her experiences of dealing with "sadmin" after her husband Matt died in the Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, in October 2021:

"In all honesty, I've blocked a lot of it out because it was SO stressful. I feel very strongly about how difficult death admin is. It's the last thing you want to do when you've lost someone. The frustration and anger that comes with being on hold, searching for info can be absolutely agonising. I remember spending nights in our study crying in a pile of paperwork trying to find the documents that I needed. I just wanted it all to be done, to rest and to not have to tell another stranger that my husband had just died.

"I had to notify at least 15 companies, and it took about a year to do all of it. During that time, I received quite a few letters addressed to my husband, as well as some equally horrible letters addressing him as 'the deceased'."

Many report having a poor experience with notifying banks and building societies of a loved one's death. Speaking about her experiences, Hayley said:

"Most of the staff I spoke to on the phone had a lack of training in how to speak to a bereaved person. On many occasions when I mentioned my husband had passed away, I didn't even get an acknowledgement."

TV presenter, actress and writer, Janet Ellis MBE, also faced difficulties navigating the complicated systems following the death of her husband John in 2020:

"After his diagnosis, my husband John did everything he could to help make the inevitable admin as simple as possible. But even though he organised all our documents and made sure everything I needed was there, contacting companies to inform them of John's death was still so difficult. Trying to figure out complicated systems is the last thing you want to do when you're grieving. And it's not even just the forms, it's attitudes. Basic training in dealing with recently bereaved was often clearly missing. Companies need to make the whole process simpler, kinder and quicker. And the changes that Marie Curie are campaigning for would really help to make sure that happens."

In light of the data, Marie Curie is calling on banks, telecoms companies and energy providers to act now and 'Make Sadmin Simple' for dying people and those going through grief.

Sarah Middlemiss, Marie Curie Campaigns Manager, spoke about the campaign:
"Unfortunately, all of us will experience the death of a loved one at some point in our lives, but the processes followed by many companies just aren't up to scratch. Nobody wants to deal with admin that is complicated, hard to navigate and sometimes even unnecessary. But for those who are either at the end of their life or grieving the death of a loved one, so called "sadmin" can be exceptionally overwhelming, and in many cases is the cause of additional distress which could be avoided. As experts in end of life, we are urging all UK-based banks, telecoms companies and energy providers to work with Marie Curie to review their processes and invest in more training for customer-facing staff, so that together we can make "sadmin" simple."

To sign the petition please visit: mariecurie.org.uk/make-sadmin-simple

ENDS

Notes to editor:

[1] Use of the word "sadmin" - Sadmin (a mix of 'sad' and 'admin' is used by many of our supporters, people with lived experience, other charities, and some professional bodies to refer to any practical or admin tasks that need to be handled when someone is dying or died. This admin can be complicated and time-consuming and can feel emotional and difficult to manage, particularly if individuals don't get the support they need from companies and institutions.

Not everyone chooses to use the term to describe their experiences – and we understand and respect that, but increasingly more and more people are using the term to spotlight attention on an issue that affects two-thirds of people after the death of a loved one.

[2] Statistics:
*The polling carried out by Opinium was carried out on 2,000 bereaved people across the UK including a further 500 in Scotland. The figures were multiplied by five as per the UK Commission on Bereavement estimate of the number of people affected by a person's death. This was then multiplied by the number of deaths according to the Office for National Statistics.

For the full polling results or further information please contact Emma Ballard, Senior Media & PR Officer: emma.ballard@mariecurie.org.uk / 0777 185 0926 or contact the Marie Curie Press Office: media@mariecurie.org.uk / 0845 073 8699.

Please note, Marie Curie is not a cancer charity but the UK's leading 'end of life charity'. We care for people with - any illness they are likely to die from including Alzheimer's (and other forms of dementia), heart, liver, kidney and lung disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's, and advanced cancer.

About Marie Curie

• Marie Curie is the UK's leading end of life charity.

• The charity provides expert end of life care for people with any illness they are likely to die from, and support for their family and friends, in our hospices and where they live.  It is the largest charity funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK, and campaigns to ensure everyone has a good end of life experience. Whatever the illness, we're with you to the end.

• If you're living with a terminal illness or have been affected by dying, death and bereavement, Marie Curie can help. Visit mariecurie.org.uk or call the free Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309.

Whatever the illness, wherever you are, Marie Curie is with you to the end.