When my grandmother passed away, I was astonished to learn that I had been named the executor of her estate. After splitting up her belongings amongst my aunts and uncles, I turned my attention to planning her funeral. I didn't know where to start. Fortunately, I was able to find an excellent funeral home that understood how to help people plan beautiful memorial services. It was amazing to go through the process of planning the music, the speakers, and even the set-up of the room. This blog is all about planning gorgeous memorial services for the people that you love so that you aren't left grappling with difficult decisions.
Death often comes with no warning. When an unexpected death occurs, families are left behind, trying to figure out how to pay for funeral services. Some families have the means and resources to pay for the services out of their pocket. Other families do not. Fortunately, there are ways to pay. Here are a few of them.
1. Insurance
One of the most obvious places for you to look for money for a loved one's funeral services is a life insurance policy. Unfortunately, because some people have not created a file folder labeled insurance, you may not know where the policy is or even if one exists.
If your loved one was employed or even retired from a major employer, they might be a part of a group life insurance policy at work. Employers often offer this insurance at no or low cost to their employees. The policy is usually only in force when the person is employed or retired from the company.
While employers should be the first people, you check with to see if there is a group policy through work, other less obvious insurance holders may exist. Some of these include:
Co-ops or other membership groups may also carry policies on their members. If you are unsure if your loved one had a policy, check their check stubs or bank statements and look for deductions.
2. Credit Card
One of the fastest ways to pay a large sum of money over a short period is to place the expense on your credit card. Many funeral homes require full payment before the service, but most take credit cards.
Select your card with the lowest interest rate if you choose this route and cannot pay it off in full after your statement date. Consider transferring this expense to a zero-interest card. This card allows you to pay the cost over several months without accruing additional fees.
3. FEMA
If COVID-19 was the cause of your loved one's death, you could apply for FEMA to cover the funeral cost. If your loved one qualifies, FEMA may pay up to $9,000 for the funeral services.
Unlike other types of governmental assistance, which outline what kind of services you can receive, FEMA covers almost any type of service you desire. You can handle the quick application over the phone, and approval takes place quickly.
You could use FEMA coverage even if your loved one had a life insurance policy. It is not considered a duplication of services.
Look into local funeral services to learn more.
Share7 December 2022
