Is there financial assistance for funeral expenses?
Answers
First of all, consider less expensive options such as a graveside service only or cremation, which generally costs between $1,000 and $2,000. While that's a fraction of the cost of most traditional funerals, it's still quite a chunk of change.
There are, however, some places to which you can turn for help in paying for funerals. But you may have to do a bit of footwork and wading through bureaucratic red tape to get the help you need.
- Most counties have rules on the books that provide that when a person does not have money or means necessary to defray funeral expenses, and his or her relatives or friends are unable or unwilling to pay, the county will provide for the burial. You will usually have to meet some fairly strict low income levels to qualify. Check with your county treasurer's office for details.
- You or some other surviving family member may be able to get a payment of $255 from the Social Security Administration if your mom or the survivor meets eligibility requirements. That amount won't go very far, but it may help a little.
- Contact the local funeral or memorial society -- a nonprofit group devoted to protecting consumers' rights and keeping down inflated funeral costs. You can find a local affiliate through the Funeral Consumers Alliance.
- And finally, if your mom is a veteran, she may qualify for some burial and memorial benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Even if you Mom is married to or a widow of a Veteran, she may qualify to be buried in a Veteran's cemetary.
Social security only pays a surviving spouse or dependent child.
In the state of Virginia, one can purchase a pre-need funeral insurance policy. With some conditions, there is a limited payout during the first two years after purchase. One gets back what has been paid in. If the insured survives two years and then death occurs, there are no more premiums due on the policy and it pays for the funeral as pre-arranged. It is my understanding that this is not the situation in every state. This site has some helpful information on this subject: http://www.aarp.org/research/endoflife/funeral/aresearch-import-195-FS76.html.
There are also city agencies that can help with the cost of the funeral if your mother meets the requirements. When the event does occur you can go to your city's Department of Human Resources Burial Claims Office. All of the cities I believe does have this agency. In New York City for example, they can pay a max of $900 to a funeral that is not over $1700 (not including the cemetery). You will also need to find a funeral home that will except HRA burial claims as payment. There are not many out there so looking now may be a good idea.
You might also, consider cremation it is usually somewhere around $900 or so for the cremation and a death certificate. You can call the Neptune Society in your state for the details.
I took out a policy [cost:$850] about 10-15 yrs ago while living in "Stuart, Fla."-with losing mobile home [yr.2004] lvg. in travel trl.4 mos. it got totaled in accident, husband diagnosed with cancer meanwhile- he "passed " yr.2005 [all in 1 year. Thru all this-somehow I "misplaced name of co, we were ins. by which I had in 2005 & gave to funeral dir. at time of husband's arrangements. This arrangement was made whil lvg. in Stuart Fla.for cremation.When husband passed we lived in Cary N,C.Just don't know where to go ftom here. Am concerned because I am 85 yrs. & have no other resources. What to do ???
look up on the net hit up cremation services and ask questions .. call monday - friday say 10 - 4pm ..take notes and see who provides answers to your situation. if you were of the jewish faith many major areas have "JEWISH Free Burial Society".providing free burials of those of the jewish faith.Otherwise if no religion maybe a medical school would accept or assist you for donation. Then have a memorial service .OR inquire @ your school help the student office... Guidence office.Ask hospice for help?..Ask your place of worship?
These are all helpful answers, but what state does the person live in, what county, etc. Most states have programs in place, BUT, in order to take advantage of some of these "benefits" the family must first refuse to accept possesion of the remains, meaning, basically not contacting a funeral home, and the the agency will dispose of the remains as they see fit. I.E. cremation, then scattering cremated remains, burial, burial at sea, etc. the family has no say in the disposition of the remains, because they have "abandoned" the case, and the state or county decides what is best and most economical for them.
There is available from the government "DWP" but you will have to qualify. This would mean you will have to be claiming some sort of benefit like social, or housing benefit. Sometimes hospitals are able to pay for a funeral if the person dies in hospital. If you get a grant for a funeral then you will have to look around for the best deal. Play one funeral director of against another. You may have to choose a funeral director that is not local to you. As all the funeral directors local to you are price matched at a high price for a simple funeral. I hope this helps. Funerals London[funeraldirectorslondon.org]
Yes, the deceased member’s beneficiaries are entitled to a 13th month pension payable every December and the funeral benefit, which is paid to whoever, shouldered the funeral expenses of the deceased member. The primary or secondary beneficiaries of a deceased employee-member, who had no contribution payment at all and who was reported for coverage shall be entitled to funeral benefit only.
Burial Insurance Quote[goo.gl]
DFS Memorials[dfsmemorials.com] is a network of family-owned funeral homes that offer their local community a transparent 'low-cost' option for a funeral or disposition. All their providers offer a basic cremation from between $495 and $1395 (depending on where you live).
Donating the body to science is another option that may facilitate a "free" cremation. There are several organizations that arrange anatomical gifting to science, and in almost all cases this means that the family benefit from a 'free' disposition. The cremated remains are returned to the family, usually with a few weeks, so that a personal memorial service can be conducted if desired. To find out more visit: FREE CREMATION WITH BODY DONATION[us-funerals.com]
I hope this information is helpful. US FUNERALS ONLINE[us-funerals.com]
Several universities have body donation for the anthropology department. They will pick up the body. No charge.
Ladywood, social security can pay out $255 towards the cost of a funeral, but you need to qualify and may have to 'jump through hoops' to get it. As already mentioned here - body donation may be an option if you have no money, but not all bodies are accepted. Try contacting Biogift about a body donation[us-funerals.com] in Texas.
There are also some websites that can help you out free of service. Services with calculator, planning tools, work sheets and etc. One website that I recommend is http://www.sharedsorrows.com/ . Also helps inform family and friends so they can help out where needed. I hope this helps.
Absolutely no doubt about that.. but do let me tell you first that there are also other services from this website has gained me a lot confidence in my life after death of my loved ones.
Thanks for all they gave me!!
You might try goggling on and asking Does HRA assist with funeral cost? I found it very helpful for a deceased friend who is in need of burial. Whatever city/state you live in, there is an HRA agency. I found that question on google very helpful in leading to organizations that may help.
The Casket is the single most costly item you pay for when arranging a traditional funeral. You can skip the middleman and buy a casket at the wholesale price and have it delivered to any funeral home in Washington State. Save 30% to 60% below funeral home prices.
Yes, I found this information to be very useful. My family was able to purchase the same Casket that the Funeral Home offered, at less than half the price.
