If you don’t have enough money to bear the burial or funeral expenses, then you need to know all the ways to get help with funeral costs. After saying goodbye to a loved one, things get more complicated when you don’t have any money to bear the burial or funeral expenses. After the unfortunate incident, you get a minimum of 2 days to a maximum of 10 days.
You need to pay all the bills and expenses for the funeral in this period. Some of the ordinary costs include clothes, headstone, casket, flowers, plot, and many other things. According to the reports, the average cost of a funeral in America is $9000.
It is tough for some families to pay such a massive amount in the expenses of a funeral. Not everyone can put some money pre-arranged for their final day. Even if you want to go lower than average, it will still cost around $4000. But in this hard time, you can get help from non-profit organizations, burial funds, and programs. Also, you can take the support of charities that help with funeral costs
These organizations or charities help you through the whole process. They will not pay for all the money, but they will advise and help you to reduce the price of the funeral. If you don’t have money to say a warm goodbye to your loved ones, then take the help of these services to avoid any kind of debt.
How To Get Help With Funeral Costs
There are many options available to get funeral financial assistance. Many organizations, charities, and states have different funeral assistance programs. You can take their help to get your funeral done. Let’s take a look at the helping process of various organizations and charities.
List of Charities That Help With Funeral Costs
If you are having a hard time paying for a funeral, then you can take the help of charities. They can help you reduce the cost of expenses with many discounts and also they can help you financially. Here are some of the examples of charities that help with the funeral.
Burial Assistance Program
This is one of the many burial assistance programs in the country. A couple in Georgia, who also had the pain and experience of saying goodbye to a child, built this charity. Which led to opening a non-profit charity program to help other families financially who are going through the same pain and stressful time. They provide grave fees, donated vaults, burial plots, and cremation costs.
Funeral Homes And Churches
Apart from the assistance programs, many churches and funeral homes can help with funeral costs. But you have to be a member of the community to avail of the discounts and help. Many funeral homes can help with your expenses depending on the many factors; some of the services of these homes include setup a lower payment plan, free-of-charge services, and discounts.
Taking the help of the churches or any other religious organization is another constructive way to get help with funeral expenses. This is one of the sources that people forgot to use in their hard times. If you are an active member of any religious organization, then they can help you and your family to pay for the funeral with discounts, partial free services, and planning of the funeral.
Government And Non-Profit Organizations That Help With Funeral Costs
Apart from charities that help with funeral costs, you can also take the help of non-profit organizations or government programs to help with paying for a funeral. This option is perfect for you if you are not an active member of any religious group or do not know of any charity programs.
Government Funeral Assistance Program
In many countries, the Government offers many programs to help the financially who lost a loved one by taking care of their funeral. There are many different long and short time programs available, but here are some of the common ones.
Allowances For The Burial of Veterans
While veterans serve their life for the country, most often, they don’t have enough money to pay for the funeral. The Government helps these veterans and their families by giving burial allowances of $200 to $2500. It supports both to assist in the part of paying for a funeral or burial and tribute to the veteran for serving his country.
The option of burying them at the state or the national cemetery of the military. This program is known as the Veterans Administration (VA). Apart from this, it also helps to support the family of a fallen veteran financially.
One-Time Social Security Payment
With the help of this program, you can get $225 of a one-time fee, if the person who died had the Social Security unique plan activated. This is one of the best ways to arrange money for your cremation, burial or funeral costs. It will also help the family members to pay for your funeral instead of approaching non-profit organizations that help with funeral costs.
Social Security Administration Payment
This program helps you to receive monthly payments from the Social Security Administration, depending on your lifetime earnings and your relationship with the person that passed away. This program assists in arranging the money for funerals, and you will not have to go to charities that help with funeral costs. But you need to provide some documents to meet the requirements and eligibility area.
FEMA Benefits
Another significant program that can help with funeral expenses, if the passing person is related to any substantial emergency and natural or general disaster. In this case, you will not have to visit non-profit organizations that help with funeral expenses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also is known as FEMA, will help to cover some of the funeral costs. Some of the common ones include burial spots, caskets, transportation expenses, and many more. Check the website of FEMA to know more.
Non Profit Organizations That Help With Funeral Expenses
This is one of the standard options to take help with the funeral costs of loved ones. When does someone ask how to pay for a funeral with no money? Most of the time, the answer is visiting a non-profit organization. In many countries, you can just dial a three-digit number that will automatically connect you to nearby non-profit organizations. And in other places, you can just contact one or visit one of your choices.
This non-profit organization can help you reduce the cost by planning the funeral, and lowering the cost of many things with discounts. They can offer donated items to help you with the funeral. Apart from this, they can buy some things to reduce the cost, such as the casket, headstone, and clothes.
Other Ways to Get Help With The Funeral Expenses
Charities, non-profit organizations, and the Government are not the only way to get help with funeral expenses. There are some other ways you can use to get help; some of the common ones are listed below.
Crowdfunding
This is one of the most common ways to get help with the expense of the funeral, along with offering others the chance to show respect and condolences. Most of the time, many family members or relatives are willing to help you but feel embarrassed to offer. Fundraising is an excellent way for them to help without getting things complicated.
Online Donations
With the help of online donations, you can get a massive fund without any hassle. You just have to post an ad on social networking sites or websites of online donations. Many people are willing to donate and help with the burial costs along with condolences.
So if you are looking for help with funeral costs, then all of these options can help you in the process financially and mentally. And you can also opt for some options to ready the funds for your funeral to avoid any financial problems. If you are still having a problem managing the cost of a funeral, please contact your local organization in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are some trade unions that provide death benefits to former members, their spouses, or other family members. For more information about these benefits, contact the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the Change to Win Organizing Center (CtW), or the independent labor union directly.
Yes, Of course. Families who need help paying for funeral services have always been able to raise funds. There are many ways to raise funds. You can start with bake sales, car washes, and church or social group fundraisers. Additionally, you can use online crowdfunding sites to reach out to family and friends via email and social media.
You must provide certain information when applying for funeral and burial assistance
a death certificate,
funeral and cemetery bills,
receipts of any payments made for these costs,
life insurance information, and
bank accounts for the decedent and next of kin.
It includes the cost of the funeral and final disposition, whether it is burial, cremation, or something else.
A licensed funeral establishment arranges all items and services that may be included in the funeral cost.
All associated fees and charges would be included in the final disposition cost, such as cemetery plots, grave opening costs, crematory fees, etc.
Those who meet certain criteria can receive funeral and burial assistance from the Department of Transitional Assistance.
Generally, there are two basic criteria for eligibility. You must have a loved one who is a federally recognized tribe member. A burial assistance application must also be submitted within six months of the death of your loved one.
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