How to Get Help to Pay for a Funeral

There is no question funerals often come as a very unexpected and unwelcome expense. In Canberra alone, around 40,000 people are living below the poverty line, with many more in the greater region. Even those with ‘good’ incomes can find themselves unable to manage a bill of $2000 if they aren’t anticipating it, especially with the cost of living increasing so substantially in recent times.

While planning and saving can help dramatically ease the cost of a funeral when it arises, sometimes this simply isn’t possible. Families can find themselves in real financial distress. When this is added to the grief families are likely to be experiencing, it’s a recipe for disaster. It’s hard to think clearly and make sensible long-term decisions in the midst of grief or stress.

Sometimes families feel pressure to spend money they don’t have, or they aren’t able to take the time to investigate all their options and end up in debt. This can take years to pay off. Tender Funerals was founded after the Port Kembla community realised how much debt was being incurred by its members to pay for funerals.

So if you are struggling to meet the costs of a funeral, what can you do?

Decide what’s really important

There are so many ways to create a beautiful, authentic funeral which does not cost much money. Whether that’s choosing a cardboard coffin for everyone to decorate, or holding the funeral at home, you have choices, and you shouldn’t be afraid to make them. 

Call on the power of your community

You know how everyone always says ‘Let me know if there’s anything I can do?’ Now is the time to tell them.

Who do you know who can contribute $50 or $100 to the funeral fund? Can attendees bring a plate to share? Who can bring some flowers or foliage from their garden? Anyone can be a celebrant – who in your circle would be good? Is there a relative who plays the guitar?

Platforms like GoFundMe are also a valuable source of community funding. We are a registered charity on this platform so your community can have confidence their donations are going exactly where you want them to. You can always talk to us about what you think you’ll need and we can help you plan, as well as connect you to other sources of financial assistance (below).

If you’re worried that this is somehow going to look cheap, or you’re embarrassed to ask for help, please remember that funerals were, until very recently, the epitome of community action. You’re not asking for charity; you’re inviting your community to be part of the final moment for your person who has died. This is not just a benefit for you; it’s a gift to the people you’ve asked to be part of the process. When we actively participate in grieving, we process it better and we heal faster. What a wonderful thing to do together!

Remember the resources you may already have

Sometimes there are resources we overlook.

• Bank accounts
  If the person who died has any funds in their bank account at the time of their death, these can be released to pay for the funeral prior to the will being resolved. If you are the executor or next of kin, you can take the invoice from a funeral home (or evidence you’ve paid it) and evidence of the death (which your funeral home can assist with) to the bank. They will release funds from the account to pay for the funeral, whether that’s all of the cost or some of it.
• Life insurance & Superannuation
  Does your person have life insurance? Remember, superannuation comes with life insurance, so if your person was working or recently working, there’s a good chance there will be a death benefit from the life insurance connected to their superannuation. Superannuation funds will take time to be released, but you may be able to use them to acquire a community loan (see below) or other support in the meantime.
• Funeral Bonds
  Did your person have a funeral bond that you are unaware of? Check their paperwork – if there is a funeral bond, it can be paid out on presentation of the funeral invoice.
• Centrelink payments
  If your person was receiving Centrelink benefits, or if you were their carer, there are various payments that may be able to assist.
• Memberships of groups, clubs, congregations, unions or other organisations
  Sometimes all we have to do is ask. If your person was a member of an organisation, sometimes there are funds kept for this very purpose. For example, musicians may be able to get assistance from Support Act. Veterans can seek assistance through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Our Pay-It-Forward Benevolent Fund

Tender Funerals Canberra Region’s Pay-It-Forward Benevolent Fund is a way for our community to help those of us in financial difficulty still hold a meaningful funeral for their person who has died. Often families find themselves in a situation where they feel they are being forced to choose between a direct cremation (with no service or time spent with their person) or going into serious debt. Our fund is designed to help families still achieve a meaningful farewell for their person.

Here’s how it works. All our funerals are charged ‘at cost’, which means we charge you what it costs to provide your funeral, including:

• Any specific items or services we may acquire on your behalf (e.g. a coffin)
• A calculation of the reasonable proportion of our operating costs (e.g. staff, utilities, rent, insurance, equipment etc) for each of the different types of funerals
• A $250 contribution to our Pay It Forward Benevolent Fund, which allows us to help families who cannot afford an at-cost funeral to still achieve a meaningful funeral. This may be waived in individual circumstances, such as for people on a government pension or in social housing.

If you are concerned about your ability to pay for a meaningful funeral, please call or email us so we can discuss whether the Pay-It-Forward Benevolent Fund is something we can offer you to help with your funeral costs. We are unable to cover the entire cost of the funeral, but we can certainly reduce some of the costs. Exactly how much depends on your specific circumstances. We don’t have hard and fast criteria for eligibility, because we know financial situations are not always black and white. We will have an honest and compassionate discussion with you about what is possible and other sources of assistance that may be available.

Explore financial assistance programs for funerals

Depending on your location and your membership of certain groups, you may be eligible for a range of funeral assistance. You are always welcome to talk to us about the way we can help.

• In the ACT, residents who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for assistance from the ACT Funeral Assistance program to cover the costs of a basic funeral. Tender Funerals Canberra Region is part of this program and can support your family to apply.
• In NSW, funeral assistance for people unable to afford a basic funeral is provided through the Local Health Areas. Contact your local council for more information.
• Members of our First Nations communities in NSW may be supported through the Funeral Fund of the Aboriginal Land Council. Transport NSW also offers support to community members travelling for Sorry Business through their Aborginal Funeral Transport Program.
• Individuals receiving Centrelink benefits may be eligible for payments from Services Australia.
• Veterans may be able to access funeral benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Some industries, unions or communities have specific programs to help their members. For example, professional musicians may be supported through Support Act.
• No Interest Loan Schemes are also available. For funerals, you will need to contact us for more information and we can refer you to the best provider.

 

Key Takeaways

• Know your options to create a meaningful, affordable funeral for less
• Invite your community to be part of the solution
• There are financial assistance programs

 

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