How Do I Cover A Funeral Expenses Payment?
There are seemingly countless ways to cover a funeral expenses payment. Anything from saving for your own funeral in an interest-yielding savings account to acquiring government assistance or even getting a payday loan could help you handle the steep cost of a funeral. It is just a matter of looking at all your options.
As many options as you have, what do you think is the hard part? Choosing which method is right for you. You want to make sure that the option you choose can help you in a timely manner. If you need help choosing which option can really help you pay for a funeral, here are five options you should be considering right now and what they all entail.
Five Ways To Cover A Funeral Expenses Payment
1. Use A Pre-Need Plan
The first option you have to help with a funeral expenses payment is a pre-need plan. You can arrange your funeral at a funeral home before you die. State law dictates that only licensed funeral directors employed by licensed funeral homes can offer such plans. The plan is pre-paid by you and designed to give your loved ones peace of mind that everything is as you wish.
As good as this may sound, however, there are some disadvantages here. For example, some funeral homes charge your family or friends extra if prices rise after you've paid for your funeral. And if the specific funeral home shuts down, your investment is null and void. So keep this in mind while you are making your plans.
2. Veteran And Dependent Burial Benefits By The Department Of Veteran Affairs
The National Cemetery Administration gives veterans and their families final resting places for free. This can help decrease your funeral expenses payment significantly. You can schedule a burial through the VA by emailing the NCA or by calling 800-535-1117 to get started.
You'll need a few documents to prove your eligibility, but the service team at the National Cemetery Administration can help you gather those documents up and organize them with you, if necessary. Once you have the documents ready, the burial benefits with the NCA typically include:
- A gravesite in any national cemetery with available space.
- Opening and closing of the burial site.
- Government headstone or marker.
- Perpetual care.
- Burial flag.
- Presidential Memorial Certificate.
Usually, you're only available for this burial benefit if you were honorably discharged or were severely injured during service. Dishonorable discharges aren't permitted, but you might be able to reverse this status, depending on your situation. Additionally, VA won't pay burial benefits if the person:
- died during active military service.
- was a federal prisoner.
- was a Congress member who passed while holding office.
And even if you don't want your final resting place to be in a national cemetery, you can still access death and burial benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs to cover funeral expenses. For service-related deaths, the VA will pay as much as $2,000 for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, or up to $1,500 for deaths beforehand.
For non-service-related deaths, VA provides up to $796 toward burial or funeral costs for deaths on or after October 1, 2019 if the deceased were hospitalized by the VA at death, and a $796 plot-interment allowance. You would receive $300 if the deceased weren't hospitalized at their time of death.
3. TEARS Foundation Funeral Assistance Programs
The TEARS Foundation provides funeral expenses payment that pays for an infant's funeral expenses and unexpected child funeral expenses. The program aims to ease the financial burden of those who are grieving the loss of their baby. Unlike the pre-need plan, you can use the funeral home of your choice.
The TEARS Foundation works closely with the home to ensure they become one of their Approved Providers. The money you receive can be used to fund burial or cremation costs. Plus, the Foundation provides parents with a comprehensive bereavement care plan involving peer companions and grief support groups.
4. FEMA Covid-19 Funeral Assistance
FEMA's Covid-19 Funeral Assistance program is still up-and-running in South Carolina. As of February 28, 2022, FEMA has provided Carolinians with over $42 million to over 6,000 people who lost loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, there isn't a deadline to apply for this assistance.
Plus, you can also receive reimbursements for funerals you've already paid for, providing the situation qualifies under the scheme. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, you can apply for assistance over the phone by calling 844-684-6333 between 9 AM and 9 PM Monday through Friday.
5. Get A South Carolina Payday Loan
The last way you can get help with funeral expenses payment is through a South Carolina payday loan. With a South Carolina payday loan from us, you can borrow up to $500 to cover funeral expenses when you find yourself in an emergency situation. You can also use this money for other emergency expenses.
If you want to learn more about this kind of loan and how it can help you out, you can go to our website. And when you are ready to get started on our simple process, you can fill out the online form. This form is then sent to the nearest South Carolina payday loan location where we can help you get started.
Check Out These Options For Help With Funeral Expenses Payment
If you find that you need help paying for funeral expenses payment, you definitely have many options available. Just remember this guide to help you choose the right option. And if you don't qualify for the government-funded programs and your loved one didn't leave a pre-need plan behind, fill out the online form to get a South Carolina payday loan.
Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.