Free funerals? Maybe not! However, Laura Richardson tells us all about what financial support there is that is currently available . . .

This time last year insurance company SunLife, reported that the average cost of a funeral in the UK had risen by up to 9% in a single year. The cost of a UK funeral was found to have increased to an average cost of just over £4,400! With this staggering cost on the constant increase, it is no wonder that many people are reaching out for help to cover the funeral costs of a loved one, however forlorn the hope for free funerals may be!

Funeral costs can quickly mount up for even a simple funeral service with such necessary costs as:

  • Funeral director fees
  • Coffin
  • Burial or cremation fees
  • Travel expenses
  • Doctor’s certificates, death certificates, and other documentation

And that’s before you add on costs such as flowers, funeral cars, Order of Service printing, refreshments for attendees, and so on so that free funerals are certainly not a possibility.

Even a “direct cremation”, consisting of a simple cremation with no funeral service will cost in the region of £1,000!

Unfortunately, there is no widely available financial assistance when it comes to covering funeral costs. However, under very limited circumstances, whilst free funerals are unavailable UK residents may qualify for a one-off Funeral Expenses Payment which can be used towards the cost of a funeral if you are in receipt of certain government benefits and you are either:

  • The partner of the deceased at the time of death
  • A close relation or close friend of the deceased
  • The parent of a stillborn baby over the age of 24 weeks
  • The parent or person responsible for a deceased child under the age of 16 (or under the age of 20 if they were in approved education or training).

However, it should be noted that you may not qualify for a Funeral Expenses Payment if another close relative of the deceased is at work or are financially able to fund the cost of the funeral.

Should your application be successful, the current amount paid out via a Funeral Expenses Payment is £1,000. However, the amount you will receive will depend upon your personal circumstances and what other funds are available to you, such as a pay-out from a life assurance policy, or from inheriting from the deceased’s Estate.

If you are concerned about managing the cost of your own, or a loved one’s funeral you may wish to discuss your financial options with Andrew Douglas Wills & Legal Services. Thanks to our trusted partner firm, we are able to offer financial advisory services such as Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Pre-Payment Funeral Plans, and Equity Release Plans.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are currently offering a fully remote initial consultation to discuss your requirements completely free of charge, so whether in Essex or across the UK why not call today?

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