You may be entitled to a Bereavement Grant (currently ?635) from the Department of Social and Family Affairs where the person who died has paid the relevant social insurance contributions. If you are the insured person, it is also payable if the person who died is your spouse or dependent child. Employees, including civil and public servants, and self-employed are covered by this scheme.

The DSS Social Fund awards financial assistance to individuals who meet a number of criteria. To qualify, you, and all other family Members who share your responsibility for the funeral, must be receiving at least one of several benefits, and have insufficient savings to pay for the funeral. The DSS Funeral Payment will provide a limited amount, which may cover a very basic funeral, or provide a contribution towards a more traditional funeral.

U.S. Social Security: If the deceased earned sufficient wages during his or her lifetime, a surviving spouse or dependent child may receive a lump-sum death benefit of $255. In addition, survivors may receive all or part of the Social Security benefits that would have gone to the deceased. The funeral director will give you the necessary information to apply for these benefits. Further information is available from Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

The cost of funerals and related services varies greatly. Be aware of the costs that you are contracting and signing for. You are responsible for the debt if you sign the agreement. Funeral Directors can assist you in making decisions based on the budget and circumstances. If you are the next-of-kin or the administrator of the estate you should investigate the following: The deceased person's bank account. Reasonable funeral expenses are a first charge against the estate.

Becker Funeral Home plans funerals ranging from simple to elaborate, with pricing to match. We package many of our services to offer a savings to families, but also offers itemized pricing for those families that do not want a package. We provide to every family that we care for or any family that requests a General Price List.

You may want to follow up with a visit to the establishment. Any consumer entering an establishment and making inquiries is entitled to the retail price list. By law, you must be presented a retail price list itemizing the costs of funeral services and the merchandise for sale from a funeral director.

A.If you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for certain programs that help with medical expenses. These services include Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and other federal, state, and local programs. To find out about these programs and how to qualify, contact your State Medical Assistance office. The government is also providing extra help with prescription drug costs. People with limited income and resources can take advantage of reduced premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

A.Many people choose to pre-arrange and pre-pay for their funerals in advance. Death is one of the certainties of life, and preparations must be made for its eventual occurrence. By pre-paying, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your family will be protected from future price increases. For payment at the time of death, Shackelford Funeral Directors offers many options for your convenience.

There are three basic funeral options the first being the traditional earth burial. Second is cremation, which is the process of returning the body to ashes. The final option is entombment in a crypt, which may be in a mausoleum.

By prepaying your funeral expenses now, you can protect against future inflationary price increases. The beginning of the year is when we typically experience price increases from manufacturers of caskets, vaults, as well as our costs of doing business. By prepaying now, before prices increase, you can freeze these costs at today's levels. Other outside expenses, such as cemetery/crematory, flowers, newspapers, clergy, music, and other cash advance items can also be prepaid.

You may be able to borrow an additional student loan. If your parent cannot help due to bad credit or bankruptcy, you may qualify for an additional unsubsidized student loan. If you have decided to support the costs of your education on your own, you may be eligible for an alternative student loan. Stop by the Financial Aid Office to speak with an advisor to determine the option that best suits your needs.

Homeowner's insurance may cover some or all of the cleanup costs. Insurance coverage varies by company, situation and policy type. Carefully read the exclusion portions (what the company will not cover) of your insurance policy, paying close attention to terms such as “contamination” or “pollution.” Also, call your insurance agent and ask to speak to an adjuster. Another option is a cleanup and/or tank replacement service agreement offered by some oil suppliers.

The Low-income Energy Assistance Program provides assistance for some heating costs for qualified low income households.

Persons who are currently receiving Old Age Pension (OAP), Aid to the Needy Disabled (AND), Aid to the Blind (AB), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may qualify for a reduced rate on basic telephone service through the Telephone Assistance Program.

Students with pending financial aid may qualify for a book voucher that can be used at the local bookstores or Students may apply for a cash loan up to $400 for assistance in purchasing books and supplies. Contact the Bursar’s Office for more information.

Funerals are an important step in the grieving process, as well as an opportunity to honor a life lived. They offer surviving family members and friends a caring, supportive environment in which to share thoughts and feelings about the death. Often funerals are the first step in the healing process. To learn more, visit the "Why a Funeral?" section of this Website.

There are limited resources for funeral expenses available. If your loved one had no assets, and was eligible for public assistance, you would need to contact either the Social Services/Medicaid case worker or Social Services General information to inquire about indigent funeral assistance. If he/she was a Veteran, you would need to contact the Veterans Administration to inquire about available benefits. You can also contact the Social Security Administration for assistance.

When a customer comes to ABC Caskets Factory, we not only help by providing the casket, we also supply information about how to save on other major funeral costs. To maximize savings the following components must be selected carefully: Funeral Home, Cemetery Plot, Vault, Marker, & Flowers. Not all of these items apply in every case. We try to determine which items the family still needs. It is not unusual to save thousands of dollars overall. You save by buying the casket from us.

Assurant Preneed provides insurance and annuity products underwritten by Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, United Family Life Insurance Company and American Memorial Life Insurance Company. A funeral home delivers the merchandise and services at the time of death. There are several ways to obtain the quality services and benefits offered by our company. Often, consumers develop a relationship with a funeral provider who is appointed with us.