Losing a loved one is never an easy thing to experience – and yet, tens of thousands of us experience such loss in the UK each week. Bereavement is a long and indirect process; grief is something that never truly leaves us, and which can make even the simplest of tasks near-endlessly difficult.
Indeed, as a closed loved one of a recently deceased person, you may be tasked with handling their funeral arrangements. This is not an easy task at the best of times, let alone with a mind clouded by strong emotions. And then there is the issue of cost.
The Cost of a Funeral
According to data analysed in the Royal London National Funeral Cost Index Report 2020, the average funeral in the UK costs £3,837. This does not describe the totality of funeral arrangement options in the UK, with services ranging from basic cremations to full burial services with a funeral director.
That cost does not fold in the ancillary costs that can be associated with the execution of a loved one’s will, which you may or may not be a party to. Whether or not your loved one’s wishes allow for a less expensive service, funeral costs can be a surprise to your own financial plans to say the least.
Probate and Loans
Generally speaking, the costs associated with the management of an estate after death are covered by the estate itself. However, there are outlier cases that might see the money coming out of other pockets – and, regardless, those costs often need covering before the probate process can be completed. If you stand to receive an inheritance from the estate of your loved one upon execution of the will, you might use a temporary probate loan to advance that payment and cover any funeral costs immediately.
Funeral Expenses Payments
If you receive government benefits, there may be an opportunity for you to receive such an advance through government channels, in the form of a Funeral Expenses Payment. This would advance money towards burial or cremation arrangements and travel, as well as document administration and up to £1000 towards secondary expenses.
In order to be eligible for such a programme, though, you would need to be in receipt of benefits payments or subsidy. The list is long, including Universal Credit, housing benefits and disability allowances – but if a closer relative to the deceased does not qualify, you might not be able to qualify either.
Alternative Payment Methods
There are routes to paying for the various costs thrown up by a funeral that do not require the advancing of money, too. Funeral directors might shoulder all costs on your behalf, and create a single point of contact for repayment. This would enable you to pay in one place and in instalments, to spread the impact of the service on your own finances.
