7 Resources that Could Help Pay for Cremation or Funeral Expenses

Budgeting for cremation or funeral may be the last thing you want to spend time and money on, especially if you or anyone in your family doesn’t appear to be ill or at risk for passing away anytime soon. While planning ahead for cremation or funeral costs may seem distasteful or eerie to some, the process can actually help your family members to a great extent financially in the event an accident does take place.

Plus, if cremation and funeral expenses aren’t exactly one of your top priorities when it comes to spending money, pre-planning could result in lower costs for your family when tragedy occurs.

Here is a list of resources you can turn to that could help pay cremation or funeral expenses when you or a loved one passes away.

1. 1. Social Security death benefit
      The spouse or minor child of the deceased could qualify to receive a one-time sum from Social Security that can be applied toward cremation or funeral expenses, but only if the deceased worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for those benefits. Report the death of your loved one to Social Security as soon as possible to verify if you qualify to receive a $255 death benefit for cremation or funeral expenses.

 

1. 1. Social Security survivor’s benefits
      If the deceased had invested between 1.5 and 10 years into work covered by Social Security, their family members may be eligible to receive survivor insurance that can help pay for cremation and funeral expenses. The payout amount will vary depending on the average lifetime earnings of the deceased. If your loved one worked under Social Security, contact your local Social Security office to fill out an application for survivor’s benefits.

 

1. 1. Veterans’ funeral benefits
      Veterans of the US military, including some civilians who have worked with the military, may be entitled to receive funeral benefits to help cover cremation or funeral expenses. In most cases, veterans may be entitled to a free burial grave in a national cemetery, as well as $300 burial allowance to eligible families and up to $2,000 burial allowance for families whose loved ones passed away from a service-related accident.

 

1. 1. Taxpayer benefits
      Numerous cities and counties across the US offer reduced inurnment costs in cemeteries for local taxpayers. Contact your loved one’s governing bureau to learn more about how to receive taxpayer benefits to cover funeral expenses.

 

1. 1. Employee benefits
      Did your loved one pass away while they were still employed? If so, check with the employer to verify whether your loved one was covered under a death benefit policy. If so, you may be entitled to receive death benefits to cover a portion or all of the funeral expenses.

 

1. 1. Church member benefits
      If your loved one belonged to a church or similar organization, contact the church to find out if your family qualifies to receive cremation or funeral financial assistance.

 

1. Crime victim fund
   If your loved one passed away as a result of being a victim of crime, contact your state or county directly to find out if your family qualifies for a crime victim fund.

At Heartland Cremation, we assure you that your loved one will be well cared for at all times and that they’ll be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. Our cremation services currently span the Kansas City, Jefferson, and Columbia, MO, regions. Contact Heartland Cremation today to learn more about our cremation and funeral services.