How to Pay for a Funeral
To this point we have established that funerals are expensive. Fortunately, this book has taught you multiple ways to save money. By pre-planning and applying the principles in this book, your financial burden will be lightened; however, THE FUNERAL STILL HAS TO BE PAID FOR!
This chapter is dedicated to showing you how to pay for your funeral. I am going to focus on four methods:
• Pay cash
• Burial insurance
• Pre-paid funeral plans
• Body donation for science
Pay Cash
Paying cash for your funeral is pretty self-explanatory. When you pay cash, you simply write a check and give it to the funeral home and cemetery. This is the LEAST preferred method of paying for the funeral because it allows you to save a TON of money and pay for ALL of the final expenses out of your own pocket. Problems arise with this method when the family doesn’t have enough money to pay the full funeral bill. For example, if you are presented with a $5,000 funeral bill and you only have $2,000, the money has to come from somewhere else like a credit card, loan, or even worse—a car wash. Funeral homes WILL NOT perform services on “good faith” or payment plans. They have been burned too many times and they want their money before they will provide their goods and services, and I can’t say that I blame them. After all, what can they do if you stop paying your bill—undo the burial?
Prepaid Funeral Plans
Prepaid funeral plans or pre-need plans consist of preplanning and prepaying for all goods and services before you need them. This is done by sitting down with your local mortuary and picking out your casket, services, urn, etc. At first glance these plans look like a great deal and they are if you are willing to pay the full cost of the funeral in one lump sum. But if you are trying to plan
on a budget and save money, you are better off selecting alternative means of paying for the funeral.
Here are a few reasons the prepaid plan may not be for you:
Reason #1: The Department of Corporations for the state of California advises not to prepay funerals. Instead they recommend Pre-plan. Here is the actual quote: “DO NOT PREPAY instead prearrange. Funeral homes and cemeteries often go out of business, change owner, or stop providing certain services.” You can find this document on the California state website. The address is www.corporation.ca.gov. Click on pamphlets then click on the End of life paperwork link.
Reason#2: Prepaying limits flexibility. Once the services are prepaid, it could be a hassle if you move, change your mind about disposition, or flat out want a refund. There could be mountains of paperwork or even worse—they tell you No because you are contractually obligated to the prepaid plan.
Reason#3: The false “freeze the funeral cost” ploy. One of the main selling points of the prepaid funerals is the ‘freeze the funeral cost’ ploy. Mortuaries claim that they will freeze the price of the funeral/ cremation at today’s prices, so you won’t have to pay for the inflation down the road. In theory this is great, but there is a problem. Unless you can write the check for the FULL cost of the funeral, you won’t get the frozen price. For example, I met a lady in Los Angeles, CA this week (we’ll call her Debbie) who prepaid for her mother’s funeral expenses. She thought she was getting a great deal because she purchased the plan 10 years ago and froze the cost of mom’s cremation at $3,500. Debbie paid
$114 a month for 5 years. Let’s do the math:
$114 monthly
x 12 months
$1368 yearly
$1368 yearly
x 5 years
$6840 TOTAL!
So, basically Debbie paid almost double ($6840) to freeze a $3,500 cremation! The theory behind prepaying is to save money, when in reality it will cost you more if you finance it. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of prepaying for the funeral? YES, so don’t prepay a funeral or cremation unless you are prepared to write a check for the full lump sum!
Prepay your funeral in a LUMP SUM ONLY and save on inflation.
Reason #4: Monthly payments are typically more expensive than insurance premiums.Many people are on fixed income and don’t have $100–$200 a month to spend on funeral expenses. Even if you do, who wants to spend it on a funeral? It makes
more sense to purchase an insurance policy at a fraction of the cost of a mortuary plan because it saves you money.
Funeral/Burial Insurance
Funeral/burial insurance is essentially a small death-benefit life insurance policy that people use to pay for their final expenses. Typically you can purchase them in quantities of $1,000–$25,000 and they come in two difference types: term life and whole life.
Term Life
Term policies are typically designed for young families (20–30 years of age) who need a large death benefit ($250,000–-1,000,000) to sustain a family for the rest of their lives if a parent passes. More often than not, this type of policy should be avoided by fixed income seniors trying to pay for final expenses. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a term life policy:
Advantages:
• Inexpensive when compared to whole life
Disadvantages:
• They are considered temporary life insurance
policies
• Only good for a period of time
• Monthly payment increase as you get older
• Coverage cancels at a certain age
• Doesn’t build any cash value
• If you stop paying, you lose all your money
Whole life
Whole life insurance policies are typically designed for people ages 50+ who are trying to pay for final expenses, small bills, and income replacement. Death benefits usually range from $1,000–$25,000. The following is a list of advantages and disadvantages
for a whole life policy, but keep in mind there are often exceptions (e.g., typically the death benefit will NEVER reduce; however, there are some whole life policies out there that have a reducing death benefit):
Advantages:
• Designed for people trying to pay for final
expenses
• No health exam is required
• Monthly payments never increase
• Death benefit doesn’t reduce
• Builds cash value
80 The Debt-Free Funeral
• Company won’t cancel your policy because
of age or healthchanges
Disadvantages:
• More expensive than term life plans
• If purchased via mail or television, you
will probably have a two-year waiting
period.
When considering a funeral insurance plan, use this list of seven mistakes people often make when buying final expense/life insurance.
Mistake #1: Purchasing through the mail
The number one most costly mistake people make when buying final expense insurance and life insurance is purchasing it through the mail. Purchasing via mail is no doubt easy and convenient but the risks are tremendous. Often, when you buy through the mail it is difficult to understand what you are getting. Brochures are vague and fine print is abundant. Instead, buy through a licensed professional. Your customer service will have a personal touch, they can better help you understand your policy, and they can provide sound advice that applies to YOU. They will also be able to answer any questions you have.
Mistake #2: Waiting Periods
Most plans that are purchased via mail have a 2–3 year waiting period before the policy is in full effect. That means, if the insured should die in the first 2 or 3 years, the beneficiary will only receive, as death benefit, what the owner paid into the policy plus a very small percentage (usually 10% or less). Why would a company make you wait two years before the plan is in full effect? They do it because when you buy through the mail, they don’t know if the applicant is healthy or not. The person applying for coverage could be terminally ill, therefore guaranteeing they would lose money on the policy. Companies don’t like guaranteed
losses, so they make everybody wait two to three years.
Mistake #3: Buying plans with increasing premiums Many unsuspecting seniors have fallen prey to this type of policy. They buy it at an unbelievable low rate and then suddenly the monthly payment begins to increase. Sometimes it takes several years before this begins and at first glance the increase does not seem significant but as time goes on it gets worse. Soon, they are unable to continue with the policy because their premiums are too high. Increasing premiums are often found in mail order and term policies. They can increase in all different time periods as well. Most mail order policies increase every 5 years while most traditional term policies increase every 10 or 20 years. As a senior, generally speaking, you should avoid these types of policies.
Mistake #4: Coverage Reductions As mentioned earlier, the prices of funerals go up about 3% every year. So why in the world, would a company give you a policy with a death benefit that decreases? Imagine having a $10,000 policy and thinking your
final expenses are taken care of; then on your 75th birthday, you receive a letter from your company stating that your coverage will be reduced to only $5,000. How frustrating, but it happens all the time. The worst part is you may have paid in more than the reduced $5,000 policy.
Mistake #5: Coverage Cancellations This is by far one of worst and most inconvenient surprises people find on their existing policies. Many people are lead to believe that they will have their final expense and life insurance policy until the day they die;
however, it doesn’t always work out that way. Many policies only provide coverage to a certain age (usually 80 years) and once they complete that age the insurance company sends them a lovely letter saying that their “coverage has been terminated under the terms and conditions of the policy.” When this happens, you usually don’t get ANY money back. So, you paid in all that
money and you receive nothing in return. Although it doesn’t seem fair, if the policy states it in the terms and conditions, they can legally do it.
Mistake #6: Accidentally Buying Accidental Insurance Accidental policies are usually offered from your bank or credit union. Many are surprised to find out that accidental and death insurance are two different things. Always remember, accidental policies only pay in the event of an accidental death. If you die from natural causes such as heart disease or old age, your beneficiary
receives NOTHING. Accidental insurance is like icing on cake, it’s nice to have but not necessary. If your budget forces you
to choose between a large accidental death policy and a small final expense or life insurance policy, it is more important to have the regular final expense/life insurance because it will pay regardless of cause of death.
Mistake #7: Not working with somebody they trust All of these follies can be avoided if you simply work with somebody who is knowledgeable and trustworthy; somebody who is willing to give it to you straight and answer your questions so there are no surprises when the time of death comes. This person should be licensed and experienced, and should represent an established company with a good track record and high S & P credit rating.
Purchase final expense/life insurance. One final note concerning burial/life insurance policies: make sure you don’t tell the funeral home how much life insurance you have purchased. Although the national average is $7,232, if you enter a funeral home boasting a $15,000 life insurance policy, guess how much your funeral will cost? Chances are it will be right around $15,000.
DON’T tell the funeral home or cemetery how much life insurance you have.
Body Donation for Science
The last method of paying for a funeral is to donate the body for scientific research. If there is ever a way to do a funeral for FREE or $50, it’s via body donation. Typically when you donate your body to science, a university will accept it for research and scientific purposes. They are free to use it however they see fit (within respectful diameters of course). Once the researchers finish with the body, they will cremate it and return it back to the family for final closure. Not everyone who wants to donate his or her body may do so. Medical institutions have rules and regulations on what they will accept. Here is a list of conditions that will exclude you from body donation:
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis B and C
• Syphilis
• Tuberculosis
• Individuals outside of height and weight regulations
The list of conditions that could disqualify you from scientific donation certainly is not limited to the above list. Every research institution will have its own acceptance criteria, so check with each one to see if you qualify.
How to donate your body to science
Donating your body to science requires preplanning. Here are the steps you need to take in order to get your FREE final farewell:
Step 1: Decide on whole body or organs only If you decide to donate your whole body you CAN NOT donate your organs (eye corneas are exceptions).
Step 2: Research your options. Do some research and find out whom in your area will accept full body donations. Start by calling around to the local universities and by asking your doctor about any such programs. You may also search willed body programs
online for a list of possible options. Once you have the names and contact information for the facilities that accept donations, call and request that registration/ information packets be sent to you. Inside the packet you will find detailed information and forms for registration.
Step 3: Plan and inform Once you have made the arrangements you still need to communicate your plans to whomever will be
taking care of your body when you die. Let them know of your donation arrangements and what you want them to do with the cremated remains.
Your family doesn’t have to wait for the researchers to finish and cremation to be completed before the family pays their respects. They should plan on having a memorial service as normal (if you want) when you pass. Make sure you inform the family and doctor of your donation plans. Failure to do so could slow up the donation process or even worse, it may prevent it from
happening. Also, keep a copy of your registration papers, and let your family know where they are located.
Step 4: Set up your plan B
The last thing you need to plan is your plan B. DO NOT assume that because you have made arrangements with a facility that you are 100% free of financial obligation. From time to time the medical institution with which you have made donation arrangements will reject the body last minute for various reasons. When you receive your information packet, it will disclose these possibilities.
Consider donating your body for scientific research. Social Security and Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits While working in the final expense insurance business, I frequently hear the misinformation about what exactly Social Security and the VA provide for final expenses. Contrary to popular belief, Social Security and the VA DO NOT pay for ALL funeral and cemetery expenses.
Here is what they cover:
Social Security Currently, the Social Security pays a lump sum death benefit of $255 to surviving spouses or dependent children. For example, if your spouse passes away, you will receive the $255 benefit. However, when the second of the two of you passes away it WILL NOT pay a benefit unless there is a new surviving spouse or dependent child. Everybody’s circumstances are different. I strongly recommend speaking directly with the Social Security office to find out EXACTLY what you and your family qualify for. Note that the benefits don’t come automatically. You will need to contact Social Security and provide them with all necessary paperwork in order to collect any type of benefit. So when you call to find out what benefits you are eligible for, you can also ask them what paper work needs to be provided in order to collect the benefit. Chances are you will need some combination of the following:
• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificate
• Dependent children’s birth certificates
• Proof of surviving spouse’s age if older than 62
• Previous year’s proof of income
• Proof of divorce from previous marriages
• Death certificates (12 or more)
Check with Social Security to see if you qualify for the $255 death benefit. Veterans’ Administration Benefits First off, unless you or your spouse was a U.S. veteran you can skip this section because it won’t apply. However, if you or your spouse was a veteran, KEEP READING because this is a huge help. For most veterans’ oweverthe VA provides a plot and a marker for both the veteran and his/her spouse. Typically, the plot and marker are limited to interment in a national cemetery and are subject to availability. Some feel that the VA should provide more than just the cemetery services, but take it from a funeral guy: this
benefit is huge. By using the VA cemetery allowance you are going to save $2,000–$5,000 on the funeral expenses. In addition to the plot and marker provided by the VA, there could also be a benefit of $1,500 if the veteran passes away due to a service related cause. Once again, everybody’s situation is different. It will benefit your family tremendously to find out exactly what you qualify for.
To find out more about what you and your family qualify for, you can contact the VA by calling 1-800-669-8477.
Eligible veterans are entitled to a plot and marker in their local national cemetery
This chapter is dedicated to showing you how to pay for your funeral. I am going to focus on four methods:
• Pay cash
• Burial insurance
• Pre-paid funeral plans
• Body donation for science
Pay Cash
Paying cash for your funeral is pretty self-explanatory. When you pay cash, you simply write a check and give it to the funeral home and cemetery. This is the LEAST preferred method of paying for the funeral because it allows you to save a TON of money and pay for ALL of the final expenses out of your own pocket. Problems arise with this method when the family doesn’t have enough money to pay the full funeral bill. For example, if you are presented with a $5,000 funeral bill and you only have $2,000, the money has to come from somewhere else like a credit card, loan, or even worse—a car wash. Funeral homes WILL NOT perform services on “good faith” or payment plans. They have been burned too many times and they want their money before they will provide their goods and services, and I can’t say that I blame them. After all, what can they do if you stop paying your bill—undo the burial?
Prepaid Funeral Plans
Prepaid funeral plans or pre-need plans consist of preplanning and prepaying for all goods and services before you need them. This is done by sitting down with your local mortuary and picking out your casket, services, urn, etc. At first glance these plans look like a great deal and they are if you are willing to pay the full cost of the funeral in one lump sum. But if you are trying to plan
on a budget and save money, you are better off selecting alternative means of paying for the funeral.
Here are a few reasons the prepaid plan may not be for you:
Reason #1: The Department of Corporations for the state of California advises not to prepay funerals. Instead they recommend Pre-plan. Here is the actual quote: “DO NOT PREPAY instead prearrange. Funeral homes and cemeteries often go out of business, change owner, or stop providing certain services.” You can find this document on the California state website. The address is www.corporation.ca.gov. Click on pamphlets then click on the End of life paperwork link.
Reason#2: Prepaying limits flexibility. Once the services are prepaid, it could be a hassle if you move, change your mind about disposition, or flat out want a refund. There could be mountains of paperwork or even worse—they tell you No because you are contractually obligated to the prepaid plan.
Reason#3: The false “freeze the funeral cost” ploy. One of the main selling points of the prepaid funerals is the ‘freeze the funeral cost’ ploy. Mortuaries claim that they will freeze the price of the funeral/ cremation at today’s prices, so you won’t have to pay for the inflation down the road. In theory this is great, but there is a problem. Unless you can write the check for the FULL cost of the funeral, you won’t get the frozen price. For example, I met a lady in Los Angeles, CA this week (we’ll call her Debbie) who prepaid for her mother’s funeral expenses. She thought she was getting a great deal because she purchased the plan 10 years ago and froze the cost of mom’s cremation at $3,500. Debbie paid
$114 a month for 5 years. Let’s do the math:
$114 monthly
x 12 months
$1368 yearly
$1368 yearly
x 5 years
$6840 TOTAL!
So, basically Debbie paid almost double ($6840) to freeze a $3,500 cremation! The theory behind prepaying is to save money, when in reality it will cost you more if you finance it. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of prepaying for the funeral? YES, so don’t prepay a funeral or cremation unless you are prepared to write a check for the full lump sum!
Prepay your funeral in a LUMP SUM ONLY and save on inflation.
Reason #4: Monthly payments are typically more expensive than insurance premiums.Many people are on fixed income and don’t have $100–$200 a month to spend on funeral expenses. Even if you do, who wants to spend it on a funeral? It makes
more sense to purchase an insurance policy at a fraction of the cost of a mortuary plan because it saves you money.
Funeral/Burial Insurance
Funeral/burial insurance is essentially a small death-benefit life insurance policy that people use to pay for their final expenses. Typically you can purchase them in quantities of $1,000–$25,000 and they come in two difference types: term life and whole life.
Term Life
Term policies are typically designed for young families (20–30 years of age) who need a large death benefit ($250,000–-1,000,000) to sustain a family for the rest of their lives if a parent passes. More often than not, this type of policy should be avoided by fixed income seniors trying to pay for final expenses. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a term life policy:
Advantages:
• Inexpensive when compared to whole life
Disadvantages:
• They are considered temporary life insurance
policies
• Only good for a period of time
• Monthly payment increase as you get older
• Coverage cancels at a certain age
• Doesn’t build any cash value
• If you stop paying, you lose all your money
Whole life
Whole life insurance policies are typically designed for people ages 50+ who are trying to pay for final expenses, small bills, and income replacement. Death benefits usually range from $1,000–$25,000. The following is a list of advantages and disadvantages
for a whole life policy, but keep in mind there are often exceptions (e.g., typically the death benefit will NEVER reduce; however, there are some whole life policies out there that have a reducing death benefit):
Advantages:
• Designed for people trying to pay for final
expenses
• No health exam is required
• Monthly payments never increase
• Death benefit doesn’t reduce
• Builds cash value
80 The Debt-Free Funeral
• Company won’t cancel your policy because
of age or healthchanges
Disadvantages:
• More expensive than term life plans
• If purchased via mail or television, you
will probably have a two-year waiting
period.
When considering a funeral insurance plan, use this list of seven mistakes people often make when buying final expense/life insurance.
Mistake #1: Purchasing through the mail
The number one most costly mistake people make when buying final expense insurance and life insurance is purchasing it through the mail. Purchasing via mail is no doubt easy and convenient but the risks are tremendous. Often, when you buy through the mail it is difficult to understand what you are getting. Brochures are vague and fine print is abundant. Instead, buy through a licensed professional. Your customer service will have a personal touch, they can better help you understand your policy, and they can provide sound advice that applies to YOU. They will also be able to answer any questions you have.
Mistake #2: Waiting Periods
Most plans that are purchased via mail have a 2–3 year waiting period before the policy is in full effect. That means, if the insured should die in the first 2 or 3 years, the beneficiary will only receive, as death benefit, what the owner paid into the policy plus a very small percentage (usually 10% or less). Why would a company make you wait two years before the plan is in full effect? They do it because when you buy through the mail, they don’t know if the applicant is healthy or not. The person applying for coverage could be terminally ill, therefore guaranteeing they would lose money on the policy. Companies don’t like guaranteed
losses, so they make everybody wait two to three years.
Mistake #3: Buying plans with increasing premiums Many unsuspecting seniors have fallen prey to this type of policy. They buy it at an unbelievable low rate and then suddenly the monthly payment begins to increase. Sometimes it takes several years before this begins and at first glance the increase does not seem significant but as time goes on it gets worse. Soon, they are unable to continue with the policy because their premiums are too high. Increasing premiums are often found in mail order and term policies. They can increase in all different time periods as well. Most mail order policies increase every 5 years while most traditional term policies increase every 10 or 20 years. As a senior, generally speaking, you should avoid these types of policies.
Mistake #4: Coverage Reductions As mentioned earlier, the prices of funerals go up about 3% every year. So why in the world, would a company give you a policy with a death benefit that decreases? Imagine having a $10,000 policy and thinking your
final expenses are taken care of; then on your 75th birthday, you receive a letter from your company stating that your coverage will be reduced to only $5,000. How frustrating, but it happens all the time. The worst part is you may have paid in more than the reduced $5,000 policy.
Mistake #5: Coverage Cancellations This is by far one of worst and most inconvenient surprises people find on their existing policies. Many people are lead to believe that they will have their final expense and life insurance policy until the day they die;
however, it doesn’t always work out that way. Many policies only provide coverage to a certain age (usually 80 years) and once they complete that age the insurance company sends them a lovely letter saying that their “coverage has been terminated under the terms and conditions of the policy.” When this happens, you usually don’t get ANY money back. So, you paid in all that
money and you receive nothing in return. Although it doesn’t seem fair, if the policy states it in the terms and conditions, they can legally do it.
Mistake #6: Accidentally Buying Accidental Insurance Accidental policies are usually offered from your bank or credit union. Many are surprised to find out that accidental and death insurance are two different things. Always remember, accidental policies only pay in the event of an accidental death. If you die from natural causes such as heart disease or old age, your beneficiary
receives NOTHING. Accidental insurance is like icing on cake, it’s nice to have but not necessary. If your budget forces you
to choose between a large accidental death policy and a small final expense or life insurance policy, it is more important to have the regular final expense/life insurance because it will pay regardless of cause of death.
Mistake #7: Not working with somebody they trust All of these follies can be avoided if you simply work with somebody who is knowledgeable and trustworthy; somebody who is willing to give it to you straight and answer your questions so there are no surprises when the time of death comes. This person should be licensed and experienced, and should represent an established company with a good track record and high S & P credit rating.
Purchase final expense/life insurance. One final note concerning burial/life insurance policies: make sure you don’t tell the funeral home how much life insurance you have purchased. Although the national average is $7,232, if you enter a funeral home boasting a $15,000 life insurance policy, guess how much your funeral will cost? Chances are it will be right around $15,000.
DON’T tell the funeral home or cemetery how much life insurance you have.
Body Donation for Science
The last method of paying for a funeral is to donate the body for scientific research. If there is ever a way to do a funeral for FREE or $50, it’s via body donation. Typically when you donate your body to science, a university will accept it for research and scientific purposes. They are free to use it however they see fit (within respectful diameters of course). Once the researchers finish with the body, they will cremate it and return it back to the family for final closure. Not everyone who wants to donate his or her body may do so. Medical institutions have rules and regulations on what they will accept. Here is a list of conditions that will exclude you from body donation:
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis B and C
• Syphilis
• Tuberculosis
• Individuals outside of height and weight regulations
The list of conditions that could disqualify you from scientific donation certainly is not limited to the above list. Every research institution will have its own acceptance criteria, so check with each one to see if you qualify.
How to donate your body to science
Donating your body to science requires preplanning. Here are the steps you need to take in order to get your FREE final farewell:
Step 1: Decide on whole body or organs only If you decide to donate your whole body you CAN NOT donate your organs (eye corneas are exceptions).
Step 2: Research your options. Do some research and find out whom in your area will accept full body donations. Start by calling around to the local universities and by asking your doctor about any such programs. You may also search willed body programs
online for a list of possible options. Once you have the names and contact information for the facilities that accept donations, call and request that registration/ information packets be sent to you. Inside the packet you will find detailed information and forms for registration.
Step 3: Plan and inform Once you have made the arrangements you still need to communicate your plans to whomever will be
taking care of your body when you die. Let them know of your donation arrangements and what you want them to do with the cremated remains.
Your family doesn’t have to wait for the researchers to finish and cremation to be completed before the family pays their respects. They should plan on having a memorial service as normal (if you want) when you pass. Make sure you inform the family and doctor of your donation plans. Failure to do so could slow up the donation process or even worse, it may prevent it from
happening. Also, keep a copy of your registration papers, and let your family know where they are located.
Step 4: Set up your plan B
The last thing you need to plan is your plan B. DO NOT assume that because you have made arrangements with a facility that you are 100% free of financial obligation. From time to time the medical institution with which you have made donation arrangements will reject the body last minute for various reasons. When you receive your information packet, it will disclose these possibilities.
Consider donating your body for scientific research. Social Security and Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits While working in the final expense insurance business, I frequently hear the misinformation about what exactly Social Security and the VA provide for final expenses. Contrary to popular belief, Social Security and the VA DO NOT pay for ALL funeral and cemetery expenses.
Here is what they cover:
Social Security Currently, the Social Security pays a lump sum death benefit of $255 to surviving spouses or dependent children. For example, if your spouse passes away, you will receive the $255 benefit. However, when the second of the two of you passes away it WILL NOT pay a benefit unless there is a new surviving spouse or dependent child. Everybody’s circumstances are different. I strongly recommend speaking directly with the Social Security office to find out EXACTLY what you and your family qualify for. Note that the benefits don’t come automatically. You will need to contact Social Security and provide them with all necessary paperwork in order to collect any type of benefit. So when you call to find out what benefits you are eligible for, you can also ask them what paper work needs to be provided in order to collect the benefit. Chances are you will need some combination of the following:
• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificate
• Dependent children’s birth certificates
• Proof of surviving spouse’s age if older than 62
• Previous year’s proof of income
• Proof of divorce from previous marriages
• Death certificates (12 or more)
Check with Social Security to see if you qualify for the $255 death benefit. Veterans’ Administration Benefits First off, unless you or your spouse was a U.S. veteran you can skip this section because it won’t apply. However, if you or your spouse was a veteran, KEEP READING because this is a huge help. For most veterans’ oweverthe VA provides a plot and a marker for both the veteran and his/her spouse. Typically, the plot and marker are limited to interment in a national cemetery and are subject to availability. Some feel that the VA should provide more than just the cemetery services, but take it from a funeral guy: this
benefit is huge. By using the VA cemetery allowance you are going to save $2,000–$5,000 on the funeral expenses. In addition to the plot and marker provided by the VA, there could also be a benefit of $1,500 if the veteran passes away due to a service related cause. Once again, everybody’s situation is different. It will benefit your family tremendously to find out exactly what you qualify for.
To find out more about what you and your family qualify for, you can contact the VA by calling 1-800-669-8477.
Eligible veterans are entitled to a plot and marker in their local national cemetery