What To Do When You Can't Afford A Funeral
Like weddings, funerals are other significant life celebrations that we cannot avoid. Yet they're not cheap. A family that cannot afford a wedding can look for cheaper alternatives for cementing a marital union.?
But what happens if a loved one dies and you can't afford their funeral? Sometimes, your community or a pool of generous well-wishers may chip in, but there are other instances when it's impossible to meet funeral expenses for a loved one.?
You may be compelled to turn the body over to the state in such unfortunate cases. Before you do, however, ensure you've exhausted every available option, some of which we'll discuss here.?
You're Unable to Pay the Funeral Expenses, What Happens Now?
The one thing about death is that it's not only inevitable but can also be imminent. A family may be caught off guard by a sudden bereavement, leaving you disoriented not just emotionally but also financially.?
Meeting funeral expenses on short notice can feel overwhelming unless you have final expenses insurance, an end-of-life care plan, or substantial savings. Your last option after everything else fails is to turn the body over to the state, and the coroner will handle its disposal. This will see the remains of your loved one interred in an indigent cemetery, which is a designated burial ground for those who can't afford to be buried at their cemetery of choice.?
Upon handing the body over to the coroner, you have no say on how they're disposed of or which cemetery they'll be buried at. This is not an easy decision, so you must exhaust all your options before surrendering your responsibility.?
What If The Deceased Has No Family??
Usually, after a terminal diagnosis in which we're certain our end is near, it's natural that we want to be surrounded by the people we love. But what if you don't have a family to stand by you in your final moments? I can't imagine anything scarier and painful than dying alone. Yet this is another unfortunate experience that's both possible and only too common.?
If no one can claim the body or pay for its disposition, it will be turned over to an aftercare home. The funeral home may cremate or bury the body based on the deceased's wishes as highlighted in their will, estate plan, or end-of-life care plan.?
In such cases, the deceased's estate handles all expenses. However, if someone dies without kin or funds, their cases will be handled per the state laws for intestate estates, and each law varies by state.?
So What's the Cost of a Funeral?
On average, a funeral can cost between $9000 and $12000 in the United States. That's beyond the ability of many Americans, especially low to middle-income earners. The costs are determined by various factors, which you should be familiar with before purchasing a funeral package.?
As you go through the funeral planning process, consider the following cost factors.?
Burials are more expensive than cremations, and burial location costs also vary. If you choose the burial with the viewing method, you should factor in the cost of embalming, casket, burial vault, funeral home fees, and burial ground.?
You should have a minimum of $9000 when preparing for a funeral involving a burial. On the other hand, cremations are less costly, requiring a minimum of $4000. Here's a breakdown of the average funeral cost for burials and cremations.?
Burial Expenses
Total cost of a funeral with a burial vault – 13,837
Without vault – $11,837
Cost of Cremation?
Total average cost of cremation – $5,635 - $7,835.?
Note that these figures don't account for optional expenses such as funeral meals, obituary, flowers, death certificate, and musician/clergy honorariums, which can amount to a couple of thousand dollars more.
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Your Options If You Can't Afford a Funeral
From the above estimates, it's clear that the cost of a funeral can be too high for most families to afford. If you are in this unfortunate situation, don't rush into signing the body for indigent disposition. The following options can enable you to give your loved one a befitting send-off full of dignity, even with limited finances.?
Government Programs
Specific organizations exist to assist needy families meet funeral expenses for their loved ones. Most of these organizations are government programs offering varying degrees of financial assistance depending on who the deceased was and the nature of their death.?
These government funding solutions can be offered at the state, county, and city levels. To access them, you'll need to research which funding options are available in your state and then apply. While a few similar private organizations exist, below are some government programs you can apply for.?
Social Security Benefit
If you're the surviving spouse or child of the deceased, you may receive up to $255 in survivor benefits. This may not be substantial enough to cover funeral expenses, running into thousands of dollars, but it can purchase flowers or cover similar minor expenses.?
Veterans Benefit
If your loved one was a veteran who died while receiving medical care under the VA, they could receive government benefits for non-service related deaths amounting to $796 in funeral expenses.?
Sometimes, the VA may also pay for cemetery and transportation expenses. If the deceased wasn't under VA hospitalization at the time of their passing, they can receive up to $300 in funeral assistance. If the deceased died in line of duty, the VA will pay $2,000 in funeral costs.?
Religious and Community Support?
Another way to collect funds for funeral expenses is through your local church, especially where you're part of a large congregation. Most churches are always eager to exercise their Christian duty and will be more than willing to fundraise for one of their members in times of crisis.?
If footing the funeral bills proves to be an uphill task, try reaching out to your local church or churches your family and friends fellowship and see if they can come through for you.?
Remember, death is a natural tragedy that affects everyone, so don't feel mortified to ask for help from your community. Someday, it will be you coming through for another bereaved family.?
Even if they don't provide substantial financial support, they may provide a free venue for the funeral ceremony. Local religious communities can also help spread the word if you decide to run a fundraiser via platforms like GoFundMe.
Online Funeral Crowdfunding
A memorial fundraiser is another avenue for receiving financial support during bereavement. You can easily set up a funeral fundraiser and capitalize on your friends, community, and well-wishers' generosity.?
A better approach is to use fundraising platforms like GoFundMe, which takes a few minutes to set up and is free to manage. The site not only allows you to collect funds for funeral expenses within a short time, but it's also a platform where others can express their sympathy and share their grief through condolence messages.?
Final Farewell
Private charity organizations like Final Farewell provide financial relief to parents who have lost children. Their offerings aren't available for deceased adults, meaning they can only help cater to the funeral costs for children. If you're a parent who's struggling with the cost of burying your child, you might want to reach out to Final Farewell through their website.?
Bottom Line
It's expensive to die just as it is expensive to live; there's no way around it. Some deaths, especially where the deceased was terminally ill, are foreseeable, allowing you to plan ahead by setting your finances in order.?
Others can be unexpected, and if you're not stable financially, it could throw your family into deeper financial distress. If you cannot meet the financial requirements of a funeral, it helps to know which options are available for consideration.?
You can take advantage of government programs your state, county, and city offers or collect social security and VA benefits. Alternatively, you can rely on your community for support, run a memorial fundraiser, or reach out to charity organizations.?
These options allow you to give your loved one a dignified and personalized send-off even if you're financially inconvenienced. You don't need to hand the remains of your kin over to the state, not if there are ways to save the situation.?