Who pays for the funeral and how ?
Funeral costs
If you arrange a funeral you are responsible for paying the bill , so first check where the money will come from and if there will be enough . Request written quotations so you know what costs are involved .
Funeral costs may be paid in different ways including :
• from the estate of the deceased
• a funeral payment scheme may exist - you ’ ll need to check paperwork to see if a plan exists
• money from a life insurance policy or pension scheme
• the deceased ’ s bank or building society may agree to release funds to pay for funeral costs
• you , or the executor , may need to pay and then recover the money from the estate later .
Bereavement Benefits
Check if you are eligible to claim bereavement benefits by visiting www . gov . uk / bereavementsupport-payment
Funeral costs for the same services may vary considerably from one funeral director to another . You would be advised to get more than one quote to compare costs and services .
Disbursements are fees paid to others , for example , for doctors ’ certificates , a minister , newspaper announcements , flowers or the crematorium .
Financial help
If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral that you have to arrange , you may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment if you receive certain benefits . You can check your eligibility on www . gov . uk .
If no one is able or willing to arrange and pay for the funeral , the local council , or , in some cases , the health authority , may be able to help , but only where the funeral has not already been arranged .
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