At Bio Recovery, our job is to provide professional cleanup services and decontamination at crime scenes, suicide scenes and accidents. These types of tragedies are always an emotional shock to the family. Luckily for those working with a budget, cleanup costs are generally covered by homeowners’ insurance, commercial insurance or a victim’s crime fund.
In this line of work, there is a lot of crossover with both mourning families and funeral homes.
Unfortunately, the high costs of an unplanned funeral or memorial service are left to a grieving family to handle. If you’ve recently lost a loved one due to a tragedy, know that we’re sorry for your loss. Here, we’ll discuss tips for holding affordable funerals and memorial services. We’ll also discuss some of the funeral assistance programs that are available trough your state or local government.
Tips For Affordable Funerals & Cremations
Here are some tips on how you can lower funeral costs:
1. Choose Cremation Over Burial
Every state has different laws, and every region has a different market. But in almost every case, cremation costs much less than a traditional burial.
However, if interment in the earth is important to the victim’s family – for religious reasons, for instance – it can still be done on a budget.
2. Direct Burials
Direct burials occur when a body is immediately put in the ground. There is no viewing, no ceremony, no cosmetology or embalming performed. The family can still host a memorial service at their home, or a favorite park or meeting place.
3. Low Caskets
Low-cost caskets are another way to hold a cheap funeral or service, and families can build or bring their own. Pinewood is usually the cheapest, but 20 gauge steel is also affordable. Understand that:
- There are only a handful of casket manufacturers in the US.
- The materials and quality of caskets from one funeral home to the next is very much the same.
- So a 20 gauge steel casket at funeral home A is essentially the same item as a 20 gauge steel casket at funeral home B.
- Furthermore, you can buy those identical caskets on the internet!
Federal law prevents funeral homes from charging you extra if you want to bring in a casket from outside. However, funeral directors are a savvy bunch.
Most will have a special, more affordable economy package that includes a direct burial and low-cost casket for a lower price than what you could get online.
That package will have none of the costly “bells and whistles” of traditional funerals, many of which you can do yourself anyways.
3. Cheap Funeral Flowers and Cards
Funeral homes are in business to make money. Granted, it’s an incredibly challenging and emotionally draining business that requires thorough education, interrupted sleep, and nerves of steel.
We admire funeral professionals. But there are portions of a burial that can be done by family or omitted, if you’re in a challenging financial position and looking to save some money.
- Family members can create memorial cards, prayer cards and programs – those paper items associated with a professional funeral. You’ll need basic printing software (we like PrintMaster, for about $50) and heavy paper called cardstock. So, with an investment of $75.00 or so, you can create all your memorial paperwork, and have software and paper left over. If you’re not sure how to download software, or not the best typist, ask any millennial in your family for help.
- “The Casket Spray” floral arrangements – flowers are a significant money-pit. Floral sprays on a casket can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000, and they won’t last more than a week. Consider designing your own using faux flowers. You’ll spend far less money, and have a keepsake that will last for decades. Or you can always just skip the flowers entirely.
Remember, the most affordable way to deal with the death of a family member is cremation.
You can host a private memorial in your home or at a park, now or later. But even the costs of cremation can vary significantly from one funeral home to the next, so call around.
Federal law requires that funeral homes are straightforward about their prices, so call a few different mortuaries before making your decision.
States Where Funeral Assistance Programs Are Available
Here is a list of states where you have funeral assistance programs, make sure you follow the links and check with your local county government as well.
New York (NY)
Low-income residents of New York City may receive up to $900 for funeral expenses if they meet the eligibility criteria, with funds applicable to funeral costs not exceeding $1,700.
In Monroe County, NY, funeral assistance grants up to $1,250 are available for deceased individuals aged six years or older, provided total funeral expenses do not exceed $6,000.
New York State offers an indigent burial reimbursement of up to $2,000 to Veterans Service Organizations that provide funeral services for veterans in need.
District Of Columbia (DC)
The DC Department of Human Services offers a Burial Assistance Program to eligible residents of the District of Columbia.
The program provides up to $1,000 for burial costs and up to $650 for cremation expenses. If an oversized casket is required, total burial costs must not exceed $3,000.
To qualify for burial assistance from the DC Burial Assistance Program, the deceased must not have had more than $1,000 in available funds at the time of death.
Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut law mandates that if a person dies in the state without sufficient assets in their personal estate to cover funeral and burial costs, the Department of Social Services (DSS) must provide payment for funeral or cremation expenses.
DSS is also required to offer burial assistance to those enrolled in certain state benefit programs, such as the State Supplement Program and Temporary Family Assistance.
Delaware (DE)
Delaware may offer financial assistance for the burial expenses of indigent individuals. The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services determines the amount of burial assistance based on the lowest local funeral and burial costs available.
This assistance amount is reduced by any funds from other sources, such as insurance or benefits. Indigent state burials typically involve a direct funeral without visitation or viewing.
Georgia (GA)
The Georgia Department of Human Services-Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) provides funeral or burial assistance to families of indigent individuals.
These indigent burial programs are managed at the county level, with services based on specific eligibility criteria, such as the applicant not possessing any life insurance or financial resources.
The amount of funeral or cremation assistance varies by county. For instance, in Fulton County, burial costs allocated cannot exceed $600.
Massachusetts(MA)
The state of Massachusetts provides funeral and cremation assistance for indigent individuals who lack the financial resources to cover funeral expenses.
The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) offers up to $1,100, with the funds paid directly to the funeral home provider.
The DTA funeral benefit is considered a “last resort” and is only available after all other payment sources have been exhausted.
New Hampshire (NH)
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NHDHHS) provides funeral assistance for individuals who were receiving state benefits at the time of their death.
Currently, up to $750 may be allocated to cover funeral, burial, or cremation expenses, provided eligibility requirements are met and all other financial resources, such as family contributions and death benefits, are exhausted.
NHDHHS disburses the funeral or burial assistance funds directly to the funeral or cremation service provider.
New Jersey (NJ)
New Jersey offers funeral assistance through the Department of Human Services (DHS). Eligible recipients include newly-approved applicants (within 15 days of death) and current recipients of state public assistance.
Funerals for public assistance recipients are arranged by a funeral home, with New Jersey providing reimbursement for funeral home and cemetery expenses. As of this writing, the maximum reimbursement amount ranges from $242 to $4,340, depending on the age of the deceased.
Pennsylvania (PA)
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) covers funeral and burial expenses for eligible residents. Eligibility is determined if the deceased was receiving or had qualified for cash assistance from DHS, was a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or was a nursing home resident receiving SSI.
Rhode Island (RI)
Rhode Island provides financial assistance for funeral and burial services through the State of Rhode Island Dept. of Human Services General Public Assistance (GPA) program.
The funding cap is $900, but this amount may be reduced based on the available income and resources of the deceased person’s legally responsible relatives.
South Carolina (SC)
South Carolina does not offer statewide funeral or burial assistance, but county governments may provide support.
For instance, Greenville County may offer a burial plot or cremation services, along with financial assistance for indigent residents who meet specific eligibility criteria.
Texas (TX)
Texas does not have a statewide funeral or burial assistance program, but resources may be available at the county level.
The Texas Health and Human Services department maintains a Burial or Cremation Assistance Registry, which lists participating funeral homes and cemetery providers that offer “free common burial or low-cost private burial” services. Physicians and healthcare providers can request contact information for the registry.
Vermont (VT)
Vermont offers funeral and burial assistance to qualifying families through the Vermont Agency of Human Services Department for Children and Families.
Financial assistance is provided through Emergency/General Assistance, and payments are directly made to the funeral or cremation provider.
Those who meet the eligibility criteria can receive a maximum benefit of $1,100 to cover the entire cost of a basic cremation or burial.
Virginia (VA)
Virginia offers restricted financial assistance for funeral and burial needs through the Virginia General Relief program, overseen by the Virginia Department of Social Services.
The amount of assistance provided varies by locality. For example, the City of Richmond Department of Social Services extends up to $500 to qualified individuals and families to assist with funeral and burial expenses.
West Virginia (WV)
West Virginia offers funeral assistance through the Indigent Burial Program, administered by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Cremation is the preferred service under this program, with benefits of up to $1,000 available to cover funeral expenses for qualifying children and adults. Payment is typically issued to the funeral home after approval of the burial benefits application.
We’re Here to Help
At Bio Recovery, we serve shocked and grieving families every day. We understand the difficult position you’re in, and we’re ready to help. That’s why we put together this resource to help grieving families plan affordable funerals and seek help from local funeral assistance programs.
If you need professional crime scene cleanup services, unattended death cleanup services, or blood cleaning in your home or business, contact us.
We answer our phones 24 hours a day, and we understand your situation.
Our team is always willing to use our more than 20 years of expertise in the field to help you navigate a difficult situation, including sharing all of our tips and knowledge on holding an inexpensive, affordable funerals and memorial services for those in need of a cheaper alternative to costly services.