Many people think that the State will help pay for their funeral when they die. Yet, only those receiving some form of benefit, and with low levels of savings, are considered for State assistance.
Everyone else has to find the money themselves or rely on their family.
Funeral expenses are the last thing you'd want your relatives to have to worry about at a difficult time, yet without making some provision you could currently leave them with a bill of £3000 or more.
The cost of a funeral rises every year. According to the 2006 Survey of Funeral costs, commissioned by insurers American Life, the average cost of a burial is now £ 3307 compared to £ 2048 in 2000.The average cremation costs £ 1954
It makes sense to plan in advance
A funeral plan, which pays cash, gives you and your family flexibility.
A funeral plan from a funerals group will tie you to the funeral as chosen, from that group.
The latter takes away the hassle at the time, but you are guessing that the funeral group will still be there offering what you really want.
Funeral plans that also arrange your funeral have had a poor reputation, partly as a result of high pressure selling from some funeral groups. There are now many respectable providers of funeral plans; regulation has removed most of the " cowboys "
This site is not concerned with funeral plan covers where you plan your funeral in advance and pay for it in advance.
For simplicity, we use the term Funeral Plan to mean those simple insurances that are designed to pay for your funeral. They are a simple form of Whole of Life cover. Many providers use names to pretty up the concept, but we will stick to the simple term. We all have to die, and all need a funeral of some type-even if it is at sea or in a wood.
Funeral Plan policies, which are not tied to a pre-arranged funeral, can be used to pay for a funeral. They will not guarantee to cover the costs.
