While it’s not something we like to think about, having funeral plans in place can help remove the worry of costs later on for both you and your loved ones.
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What is a Funeral Plan?
A funeral plan is a simple way of paying for a funeral in advance. It helps reduce the stress and worry your loved ones may face when the time comes, and it guarantees to fix the cost of the services in the plan at today’s prices.
When you think of life’s big expenses, the main ones are pretty obvious – house, wedding, raising a family, car – but the other might surprise you: it’s funerals. The average cost of a funeral was £3,837 in 2020.
How does a funeral plan work?
Funeral plans cover the cost of a set list of burial or cremation services, and will let you include what's important to you.
The Cost
While this is the average cost, what you'll pay for a funeral fluctuates a great deal. If you or a loved one is lucky enough to live – and pass away – in Northern Ireland, the funeral could be the cheapest in the UK, with an average cost of just £2,962 in 2020.
If you're planning your own funeral, or helping a loved one with their arrangements, take the time to get an estimate of costs from at least two funeral directors. If you're concerned about the cost – bear in mind extras can include things such as flowers, a wake or death notices – then ask if they offer a ‘simple’ funeral to keep costs down and a copy of their (The Competition and Markets Authority, CMA) standardised funeral price list.
If you’re arranging a funeral for a loved one, you may also be able to get help from the government. If you receive certain benefits, and meet set rules about your relationship to the person who has died, you can apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment. It's unlikely to cover the entire cost of the funeral, but it could help with paying for documents such as death certificates, burial or cremation fees, or other funeral expenses.
All eligible members of the Credit Union can apply for insurance covered under their Death Benefit Insurance Policy. This means in the event of your death, a lump sum of will be paid to your family to help with the cost of funeral expenses, thereby easing the financial burden of bereavement.
Planning ahead
The cost of funerals has been steadily increasing since the 1980s. So, if you're planning ahead, paying for your funeral now and locking in today’s prices could prove to be a very savvy investment.
A pre-paid funeral plan is a good way to protect against future funeral cost increases, as you fix the cost at the time of purchase. Many people don’t bother with pre-paid plans because they think their assets will cover the cost of their funeral. But, how accessible are those assets? Would your relatives be able to access the money needed quick enough to pay the funeral bills?”
The benefit of pre-pay plans is that they sit outside of your estate, so they aren’t subject to probate rules – or inheritance tax – and the money can be released immediately to pay the bills.
If you can’t afford to pay the cost of a funeral up-front, there are other option, go for a pre-paid plan, but with the costs spread over a set period or funeral finance, the drawback is you may have to pay additional fees compared to paying everything at once.
Alternatively, you could take out an insurance policy that may cover the basic costs of your funeral, depending on the type of policy you take out. But make sure you understand exactly what is covered and how much of your funeral would be paid for. It's also important to understand that, as with all insurance policies, you could pay in far less than the cost of a funeral and get a pay-out – but, if you pay in for a long time, you could pay in more than you get back.
There are a number of different ways to fund a funeral, and you'll need to compare the options, read the small print and work out which is the best option for you. But whatever plans you make, don’t forget to tell someone about them.
More information on funeral plans and insurance policies can be found at the Money Advice Service.
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When it comes to planning your service, having the help of an experienced funeral director with knowledge of the local area can be invaluable. At the time of the funeral itself, your family will have access to the highest quality care and support, and be sure to receive a sympathetic and compassionate service with guidance - dignity & respect From WJ O'Donnell & Sons Funeral Directors.