The Money Coach
  • About
    • Meet Lynnette
    • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • QR Code
  • Books
  • Categories
  • Coaching
  • Hire Lynnette
  • Money Coach University™
  • The Money Coach Recommends™
No Result
View All Result
The Money Coach
  • About
    • Meet Lynnette
    • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • QR Code
No Result
View All Result
The Money Coach
No Result
View All Result

What to Do if You Cannot Afford to Bury a Loved One Due to COVID-19 

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach
in Covid-19, Family Finances
Reading Time: 4 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

The coronavirus pandemic has led to over 112,000 deaths in the United States at the time of this writing. That’s 112,000 families managing the costs associated with  burying a loved one. We hope you won’t have to face this. However, the reality is that we are all at risk of losing someone during this pandemic. 

Currently, the average cost of a funeral is between $7,000 and $10,000. While life insurance can help cover some of the expenses, not every insurance plan includes burial assistance. 

What are your options if you need to pay for a funeral and do not have the funds? Below are resources and tips for locating burial assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. 

State and Local Government Assistance 

Many states offer financial support to take care of funeral costs. Depending on the state, you can receive up to a couple thousand dollars. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, some states have increased the amount of burial assistance. For example, the New York government raised its burial allowance from $900 to $1,700, and the cap on burial costs from $1,700 to $3,400. They also extended the timeframe for requesting help to 120 days. Therefore, you should check your state and local government websites to explore and seek this support. 

Veterans Affairs Burial Assistance 

If your loved one was in the military, they are eligible for financial burial assistance from Veterans Affairs (VA). For a non-service related death, the VA will pay up to $796 if the person died at a VA hospital. If they were not at a VA hospital at the time of death, you could receive up to $300. Check the benefits.va.gov website for more details on burial assistance for service members. 

Nonprofit and Community Based Organizations 

Many nonprofits, charities, and community based organizations provide burial assistance for families. Nonprofits like Final Farewell and The Tears Foundation offer financial support for parents burying children. The latter organization is even offering extra emergency financial assistance to families impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. 

There also could be local charities helping with burial costs. Call 211 to get a list of organizations in your area that offer this support. In addition to nonprofits and charities, churches often provide financial support for burials. Reach out to a local place of worship for help, and look at religious organizations like your local Catholic Charities. 

Social Security Benefits

You are eligible to receive burial assistance if your loved one was a recipient of, or was eligible to receive, social security benefits. The surviving spouse or child can receive a one-time payment of $225 that can go toward funeral costs. It’s crucial for you to contact the Social Security Administration as soon as possible to set up this support. Also, use this time to discuss any benefits that you and your family may be entitled to. 

Support From Funeral Consumer Alliance 

While this organization doesn’t offer direct burial support, it does help families save money on burial costs. The Funeral Consumer Alliances’ group of volunteers works with funeral professionals and consumers. They help families locate fair prices for funeral-related expenses. This group can also support families by educating them on reasonable costs and advocating for them during the process. Their goal is to protect and inform those who are facing the loss of a loved one, and take the stress out of funeral planning. 

A Funeral Doesn’t Have to Involve the Stress of Expensive Costs 

The last thing you and your family should have to worry about during this pandemic is dealing with high funeral expenses. Fortunately, there are many resources that can reduce the cost. If you are not facing this situation, but want to prepare, check into the resources above. Again, it would be ideal if no one has to face this reality, but the COVID-19 outbreak is forcing many of us to deal with matters such as this one. 

For more information on end-of-life planning and care, read: Financial Steps to Take When a Parent is Dying. 

Tags: funeral costs
Previous Post

How to Protect Your Credit Score After Job Loss 

Next Post

How to Talk to Your Teens About Money During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Related Articles

AskTheMoneyCoach.com

4 Ways to Save or Make Money Without Leaving Home

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

With remote work gaining in popularity and inflation hitting everyone's budgets, more people are staying home these days.  But how can you stay home and still make or save money? Here are four ideas to help you keep some cash in your wallet -- or generate extra money, all without having to leave your home or apartment. 1. Join a...

Bible Money Secrets

Teri Ijeoma, Personal Financial Experts Launch Bible Money Secrets

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

Did you know that the Bible has over 2,000 verses about money? That's right. Faith and Finances do go together! So being a spiritual person, or believing in God, doesn't mean you can't do well financially too.  In fact, God wants us to prosper economically -- and to be good stewards of our money and resources. He's laid out a...

CARES 2

CARES ACT 2: New Coronavirus Relief Bill Offers More Stimulus Checks

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

BREAKING: The Senate finally reached a deal on a $900 billion Coronavirus relief bill. Here's a quick snapshot of what it includes and how much money it means for you: - Survival checks / Stimulus Checks: $600 per adult + $600 per dependent, including those in "mixed status" families (i.e. families with U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents (green card holders) as...

CARES Act: Student Loan Relief

Get Your Employer to Pay $5,250 of Your Student Loans in 2020: FAQs About the CARES Act

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

I recently posted a student loan tip on social media that went crazy viral! It racked up tons of traditional media coverage, plus many thousands of likes and shares (not to mention comments and questions!) across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram -- far more than any other single post I've shared. So what was the tip? The CARES Act offers a...

Financial Truths

7 Painful Financial Truths You Need to Accept in the Age of Coronavirus

by Guest Blogger

The COVID-19 outbreak is causing people to make tough choices regarding their finances. Are you in this boat? If so, you likely have to accept some unpopular truths to weather the storm of these uncertain times.  Here are some hard, but necessary financial truths that you need to consider as you move through these difficult times. 

emergency fund

How Much Do I Need in My Emergency Fund During COVID-19

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

According to a Bankrate survey, 23 percent of respondents said their biggest financial regret is not having enough money in their emergency savings to withstand the COVID-19 outbreak. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the financial standing of many Americans. While jobless claims have fallen since late March, nearly 18 million people are still receiving unemployment benefits.  Even as businesses reopen,...

Load More

All information on this blog is for educational purposes only. Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach, is not a certified financial planner, registered investment adviser, or attorney. If you need specialty financial, investment or legal advice, please consult the appropriate professional. Advertising Disclosure: This site may accept advertising, affiliate payments or other forms of compensation from companies mentioned in articles. This compensation may impact how and where products and companies appear on this site. AskTheMoneyCoach™ and Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach® are trademarks of TheMoneyCoach.net, LLC.

©2009-2023 TheMoneyCoach.net, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

RSS / Sitemap / Privacy Policy / LynnetteKhalfaniCox.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Books
  • Categories
  • Contact Lynnette
  • Get Coaching
  • Hire Lynnette
  • Money Coach University™
  • The Money Coach Recommends™
  • Home
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • QR Code

©2009-2021 TheMoneyCoach.net, LLC. All Rights Reserved.