Paying for the funeral of a loved one in the United States is expensive. The median cost of one with burial is $8,300, while the median cost of a funeral with cremation is $6,280, according to a 2023 report by the National Funeral Directors Association. What’s more, most funeral homes require payment upfront, so 🍬families are often forced to come up with that hefty sum during a very emotional time.

However, these expenses don’t have to drain your or your relative’s bank account. There are ways to ensure that you are paying only for what you want and to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:find monetary assiﷺstance i❀f you need it.  

Expenses Included in the Cost of a Funeral

It’s important to understand the required costs and those that are optional to keep from overpaying for a loved one’s burial or cremation. The 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Funeral Rule, which is set up to help you choose the goods and services you want or need and to pay only for the ones you select—regardless of whether you plan ahead or make arrangements when a death occurs.

Funeral costs start with a basic service fee that funeral providers are permitted to charge all customers, according to the FTC. This basic se꧑rvice fee covers the following elements of the funeral:

• Funeral planning
• Preparing funeral notices
• Obtaining permits and death certificates
• Caring for the decedent’s remains
• Making arrangements for burial, cremation, or handing off to third parties
  

Funeral Expenses That Are Optional 

Addit𒈔ional services are 🦂considered optional for a funeral, according to the FTC. These are not covered by the basic service fee. They include:

• Embalming or other preparation of the remains
• Arranging a viewing at the funeral home
• Hosting a ceremony or memorial service at the funeral home
• Providing staff and equipment for a graveside service
• Transporting the remains
• Providing a hearse or limousine
• Elements for interment or burial, including a casket, outer burial container, or alternate container such as an urn
• Cremation or interment
  

Funeral providers also charge fees known as cash advances to cover services from ꧟other vendors that the funeral provider handles on your be🏅half. These include:

• Pallbearers
• Officiant 
• Musicians and singers
• Obituary notices
• Flowers
  

How to Pay for a Funeral 

No one wants to face a large funeral bill when they are grieving the loss of a loved one. Whenever possible, make arrangements in advance, utilizing one or more of the fဣollowing sources of funds.

Life Insurance 

Purchasing a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:life insurance policy can provi𒊎de the necessary funds to cover funeral expenses. After the policyholder’s death, the life𒁏 insurance company will disperse a lump sum to the beneficiaries on the policy. These funds can be used to pay funeral costs.

However, if you purchase life insurance to help cover funeral expenses, the Funeral Consumers Alliance, a death-care industry watchdog group, advises against purchasing preneed insurance or 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:burial insurance because the premiums you pay typically cost more than the benefits that the policy pays out. 

Savings

Stashing funds into a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:savings account ensures that your loved ones have the money to cover your funeral. However, it’s importantꦓ to set up a joint account so loved ones can access the funds when they have to pay the funeral provider. This could be a spouse, the executor of your will, or another trusted ind🌳ividual.

Another option is setting up a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:payable on death (POD) account, in which the funds are dispersed to the beneficiary upon the account holder’s death. This option avoids the delay of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:probate court. 

Prepayment

Many funeral providers offer a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:prepayment plan to cover funeral expenses. For example, you might place the funeral funds into an interest-bearing account or insurance policy with the funeral provider listed as the beneficiary. Upon your death, the funds are transferred to the funeral provider. 

Pay with Cash or Credit

If the funds are available, you can simply pay for the funeral with cash, check, or a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:credit card. If necessary, check with the funeral provider to see if you can pay the fees in installments. 

Leverage Assistance Programs 

There may be assistance programs or benefits available to help you pay for a funeral. The following are examples of sources of assistance to look into: 

• Employer: Check to see if the deceased’s employer offers survivor benefits to help cover funeral expenses. 
• Government agencies: If the deceased received 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Social Security benefits, the surviving spouse can receive a death payment of $255. For those receiving benefits such as Medicaid, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or 澳洲幸运5✃官方开奖结果体彩网:Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), the family may receive additional—though minimal—monies. States and/or county social services departments also may offer assistance. 
• Veteran’s benefits: If the deceased is a veteran, they can receive a free burial and headstone in a national cemetery. Additional benefits may be available if the deceased was on active duty, died from service-related injuries, was in a U.S. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结🌃果体彩网:Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility, or received a VA pension or disability. If the deceased is the spouse or dependent of a veteran, they also may receive some burial benefits. 
• Victims’ assistance: If the deceased was the victim of an accident or homicide, the family may receive funds from the local or state Victim Compensation Program.
• Fundraising: Families may work with their church and/or community to raise the necessary funds through special events such as concerts, bake sales, and other activities. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe also are options for collecting donations. 
  

The Bottom Line 

Dealing with funeral expenses while grieving a loved one can be daunting, but there are ways to pay for a funeral that can help make the proce♒ss less onerous, provided that you do them in advance. These include purchasing a life insurance policy and setting up a savings account. Those in need may also be able to take advantage of assistance programs. These options can provide peace of mind for the families left behind.