Decedent Estate

The estate of the deceased typically covers the costs of the funeral. Access to estate assets may be difficult, as such it is also common for family or friends to pay for the costs of a funeral with the expectation of the estate reimbursing the costs. The person arranging the funeral may be asked to sign a promissory note; That person will be responsible for payment in full, even if the estate cannot cover the funeral costs.

Insurance

Insurance will cover the costs of a funeral, if it was purchased. Funeral plans are not always discussed with family and friends prior to the need for a funeral. It is worth checking if funeral insurance was ever purchased. Be sure to check with the employer of the deceased to find out if funeral insurance was provided as a benefit.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor benefits may assist with the cost of a funeral. Survivor benefits will not typically cover the full expense of a funeral. Common survivor benefits include social security, veterans administration, and associations that the deceased was a member of.

Local Municipality

The local municipality will typically accept financial responsibility if the estate, relatives, and friends cannot pay. Funds provided by a municipality are typically between $500-$1500.

Funeral Collections

Funeral costs can often exceed the funds available from the estate and survivor benefits. Funeral homes will send unpaid expenses to collections. Make sure you understand your obligations when signing a promissory note for a funeral.

Most airlines do offer a bereavement fare, which is a discount (usually 50%) offered on the higher non-discounted rate. Sometimes you can find cheaper deals direct, but it never hurts to give the airlines a call.

“Bereavement fares” are going by the wayside, though abuse of the system didn’t have much to do with it. Before the airlines deregulated in the ’80s, airline fares were quite expensive and air carriers offered these bereavement fares as a break to those that could prove the situation. This often meant copy of a death certificate, obituary in a paper, etc., sent to the airline.

Since deregulation, airfares are quite inexpensive and cut-rate. Domestically, an offered bereavement fare is only small discount off the full-fare coach fare.  Cheaper fare can be found somewhere else directly through Southwest, JetBlue, or through most any domestic airline website. If traveling international bereavement, it might be worth asking a ticket agent directly.

The best recommendation is to contact the funeral home where the arrangements are being made. Funeral directors come across this situation many times, and are more than happy to help. Although most of their contact with airlines is cargo shipping, they know how to work the system. If you want to do research on your own, you need to call the airlines and ask about bereavement travel, or look it up on their website. Links to airlines that have bereavement information on their websites are at the end of this article. Last but not least, if they made arrangements with an SCI Corporate Firm, also known as Dignity Memorial Providers, they will provide an 800 number for you to call and make discounted arrangements through their travel agents.

Delta Bereavement Fare Information
Continental Bereavement Fare Information

Most funeral homes will offer the following items/services in a packaged deal, a Traditional Funeral:

• Funeral Director and Staff services
• Embalming and other preparation
• Visitation at the funeral home
• Service at the funeral home
• Removal from place of death
• Limousine for pall bearers and family
• Hearse and other transportation fees

Packaged deals are commonly offered, but you do not have to choose a packaged deal. The funeral rule, enforced by the FTC, requires funeral directors to provide itemized prices and the option to purchase them individually.

Shop around to get the best price. Funeral directors must give you prices over the phone without requiring your hame, phone number, or address. The funeral home must provide a General Price List (GPL) when you visit in person.  A GPL lists all the items and services the funeral home provides. Some funeral homes will offer to fax or mail their GPL, but it is not required.

If the bill is not payed the funeral home could send the authorizing individual(s) to collections. Most funeral homes will offer a payment plan before they sell the bill to a collections company.

You should also inquire about funeral payment assistance.

State, City, and Non-Profit Assistance
Contact your state Department of Public Assistance or Department of Human Services. The department may also have information on local city and non-profit burial assistance programs.

Medicaid
Medicaid may assist with funeral costs if the deceased was on Medicaid at the time of their death. Verify your funeral home accepts Medicaid payments.

Social Security
Anyone receiving Social Security is entitled to a lum sum death benefit of $255. The benefit is paid only if there is a surviving spouse or surviving children under the age of 18.

Veterans Assistance
US Veterans of the Armed Forces who received an honorable discharge may be entitled to a burial in the local National Cemetery at no cost. The Veterans Administration will reimburse a portion of the burial or cremation expenses if the veteran’s death is service connected. The VA may also assist with burial, cremation, and plot expenses for eligible veterans.