Losing someone that you love is hard, not only emotionally but also financially. In fact, the funeral expenses can also make it harder. The cost of a funeral can be a lot. If you are from a low-income family, it can give you significant stress. Fortunately, there are resources and strategies that can help you with this. Read the guide to explore options available to help you in managing funeral expenses below.
Average Funeral Expenses
The average funeral expenses vary, depending on a few factors such as the location, services, and burial or cremation choices. Just like in other countries, the funeral expenses also vary in the United States. Here are the average funeral expenses in the states in the United States:
-
- Alabama: $7271 (funeral), $6,314 (cremation)
- Alaska: $7,225 (funeral), $6,028 (cremation)
- Arizona: $6,888 (funeral), $5,694 (cremation)
- Arkansas: $7,334 (funeral), $6,405 (cremation)
- California: $7,225 (funeral), $6,028 (cremation)
- Colorado: $6,888 (funeral), $5,694 (cremation)
- Connecticut: $7,881 (funeral), $7,069 (cremation)
- Delaware: $7,800 (funeral), $7,070 (cremation)
- Florida: $7,800 (funeral), $7,070 (cremation)
- Georgia: $7,800 (funeral), $7,070 (cremation)
- Hawaii: $7,225 (funeral), $6,028 (cremation)
- Idaho: $6,888 (funeral), $5,694 (cremation)
- Illinois: $7,868 (funeral), $6,953 (cremation)
- Indiana: $7,868 (funeral), $6,953 (cremation)
- Iowa: $8,500 (funeral), $7,560 (cremation)
- Kansas: $8,500 (funeral), $7,560 (cremation)
- Kentucky: $7,271 (funeral), $6,314 (cremation)
- Louisiana: $7,334 (funeral), $6,405 (cremation)
- Maine: $7,881 (funeral), $7,069 (cremation)
- Maryland: $7,800 (funeral), $7,070 (cremation)
- Massachusetts: $7,881 (funeral), $7,069 (cremation)
- Michigan: $7,868 (funeral), $6,953 (cremation)
- Minnesota: $8,500 (funeral), $7,560 (cremation)
- Mississippi: $7,271 (funeral), $6,314 (cremation)
- Missouri: $8,500 (funeral), $7,560 (cremation)
- Montana: $6,888 (funeral), $5,694 (cremation)
- Nebraska: $8,500 (funeral), $7,560 (cremation)
- Nevada: $6,888 (funeral), $5,694 (cremation)
- New Hampshire: $7,881 (funeral), $7,069 (cremation)
- New Jersey: $8,093 (funeral), $7,463 (cremation)
- Nex Mexico: $6,888 (funeral), $5,694 (cremation)
- New York: $8,093 (funeral), $7,463 (cremation)
- North Carolina: $7,800 (funeral), $7,070 (cremation)
- North Dakota: $8,500 (funeral), $7,560 (cremation)
- Ohio: $7,868 (funeral), $6,953 (cremation)
- Oklahoma: $7,334 (funeral), $6,405 (cremation)
- Oregon: $7,225 (funeral), $6,028 (cremation)
- Pennsylvania: $8,093 (funeral), $7,463 (cremation)
- Rhode Island: $7,881 (funeral), $7,069 (cremation)
- South Carolina: $7,800 (funeral), $7,070 (cremation)
- South Dakota: $8,500 (funeral), $7,560 (cremation)
- Tennessee: $7,271 (funeral), $6,314 (cremation)
- Texas: $7,334 (funeral), $6,405 (cremation)
- Utah: $6,888 (funeral), $5,694 (cremation)
- Vermont: $7,881 (funeral), $7,069 (cremation)
- Virginia: $7,800 (funeral), $7,070 (cremation)
- Washington: $7,225 (funeral), $6,028 (cremation)
- West Virginia: $7,800 (funeral), $7,070 (cremation)
- Wisconsin: $7,868 (funeral), $6,953 (cremation)
- Wyoming: $6,888 (funeral), $5,694 (cremation)
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the funeral cost above usually includes several services, such as:
-
- Funeral home’s basic service fee: $2,300
- Casket: $1,500 to $10,000
- Cremation casket: $1,310
- Burial vault: $1,572
- Burial plot: $3,581
- Headstone: $2,000
- Embalming: $775
- Third-part cremation fee: $368
- Facilities and staff to manage a funeral ceremony: $515
- Facilities and staff to manage a viewing: $450
- Cremation urn: $295
The Funeral Rule
Some of the funeral homes force people to buy goods and services that they do not need or want. Aside from that, some of them also increase the price of the items that are wanted by people. In order to prevent such a thing from happening, the Federal Trade Commission or FTC has introduced a rule known as the Funeral Rule. This one is created to help consumers with their rights when it comes to the costs of the funeral home. Thanks to this rule, the consumers have the right to do a following:
-
- Purchasing only the goods and services
- Getting pricing information by telephone
- Getting an itemized statement of goods and services
- Seeing the price list of the casket
- Seeing a written price for outer burial containers
- Getting a written statement after deciding the thing that they want and before they pay
- Using an alternative container for cremation
- Giving their own casket or urn
- Making funeral arrangements without embalming
Unable to Pay for Funeral Expenses
For those who are unable to pay for funeral expenses, here are the list of assistances:
1. Funeral assistance programs offered by government
-
- State and local resources: A lot of states in the United States offer assistance programs for those who are unable to pay for funeral expenses for a loved one. The amount varies depending on the state and the individual. In California, it is possible to get funeral money if the victim dies due to crime or natural disaster. To get such a thing, the family member can contact the California Department of Health office.
- Social Security: If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, it may be possible for them to get a one-time death benefit. For those who are wondering about how much they can get, it is $255. If their family wants to apply for this benefit, they can contact the Social Security Administration or SSA by phone or in person.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA: Just like the funeral assistance program in California, the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA can also provide funds to the family of the victim who died from a disaster such as drowning in a flood or indirectly such as suffering from a heart attack while trying to evacuate from the disaster. Keep in mind that this type of assistance program cannot be accumulated with other assistance programs.
2. Funeral benefits for military and veterans
The active military members are able to receive money from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs if they die while serving. The amount of money that they can get is up to $2,000. If the death is not related to service, they will not get the extra burial expense benefit. However, they are still able to get a total of $100,000 tax-free payment, regardless of the cause of the death, which can be used to pay funeral expenses. Same thing goes for veterans. They can also get money that they get can be used to cover funeral and burial costs, even though their death is not service-related.
3. Funeral assistance offered by charities and non-profit organizations
-
- Memorial organizations: A lot of states in the United States have memorial societies that can help to pay funeral expenses. Actually, their service is not limited to giving money but also providing information on local funeral homes, giving advice on how to save money on certain services, giving discounted prices, and so on. Some memorial organizations to contact include Funeral Consumers Alliance.
- Religious organizations: Worship places such as churches and mosques usually help members of their organizations to pay for the funeral expenses in case they are unable to do it.
- Funeral assistance for children: If the deceased is a child or a baby, they can get funeral assistance from a lot of charities. Some charities that offer such a thing include Final Farewell, The Tears Foundation, and Children’s Burial Assistance.
4. Funeral insurance
Funeral insurance is the type of insurance that is intended to cover the funeral and burial expenses. The average money that is paid by the policies is $10,000. However, it can also be less or more. This type of insurance is usually paid by the deceased before they die. Sometimes, their family members pay for them as a preparation effort.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, losing a loved one is challenging, including financially. For any family member or loved one who is having a hard time paying for funeral expenses, you are recommended to reach out to some parties that can help for such a thing. Do not feel down and discuss with other people to explore the best options for your situation.