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Making plans for the end of life can be overwhelming and the temptation to put it off is ever present.
However, leaving your loved ones to deal with costs and preparation of a funeral is an equally daunting prospect. The average funeral cost in the UK is £4,300 and more and more people, in fact, around 20%, are choosing to set up pre paid funeral plans. This enables you to remain in control of all stages of funeral preparation, reducing stress and worry for your loved ones and fixing the cost of services at today's prices.
Protect your loved ones from rising funeral costs
The real benefit of taking out a funeral plan is that you can effectively freeze the cost at today's prices, meaning your funeral will be protected from future price increases.
The average funeral cost £3,000 and a top of the range or so to speak ‘all inclusive’ package can cost up to £5,000. Many providers let you choose between cremation or burial as part of your funeral plan. Different plan providers treat burial and cremation in various ways. For instance, some providers only offer a contribution towards cremation costs and for Burial a contribution that doesn't rise in line with the Retail Price Index. Likewise, some providers guarantee to cover these costs, while others exclude them completely.
Also, there are other costs to be discussed with your funeral plan provider, for example,the the cost of a burial plot and a headstone.
Nearly all plans guarantee funeral director services. You can expect:
- A coffin
- A hearse
- The services of a chapel of rest
- Transport of the body to the funeral home
- An official to conduct the ceremony
- Option to visiting the body in a chapel of rest
There may then be third-party costs such as cremation and doctor’s fees as and when needed, or you may have an allowance which will cover these (but isn’t guaranteed to if prices have gone up by the time of the funeral). Before paying, always double check what you are getting as every plan has its differences.
What’s not generally included:
- Burial fees, including cost of burial plot and digging a grave
- Flowers
- Catering
- Embalming
The funeral director will also normally manage third-party costs (known as disbursements), on your behalf. This includes the burial or cremation fees, and the cost of the officiant or clergy member to conduct the funeral service. Should you choose to have a cremation, they will also make arrangements for a medical referee’s certificate.
| Burial fee | £2,059 |
| Cremation fee | £791 |
| Officiant/Clergy member fee | £155 |
| Medical certification fees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (only applies for cremation) | £164 |
Source: SunLife Cost of Dying report 2017
The fees for the medical certifications, (two are required for a cremation), must each be certified by a different doctor normally cost £82 each. This only applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They were removed in Scotland in May 2015.
A pre paid funeral plan will certainly help you remain in control of things at nearly all stages of the process. It will also take the pressure off your family both financially and emotionally. The average funeral cost in the uk is rising every year; it has more that doubled since 2004. In 2017 the average price of a funeral was £4,078 and this is predicted to rise to £4,944 by 2022. A big advantage of paying for your funeral now is that if the average funeral cost rises in the future, the basic funeral director services are protected against inflation.
However, third-party costs (eg, cremation/burial fees) may have risen and your family might have to pay extra depending on what guarantees were or weren’t in the contract, so you need to check before taking out a plan.
Simple process
Things To Consider
Here are some final thoughts to help you decide if a funeral plan is for you
01
Consider your family’s finances
Pre paid Funeral plans are there to meet the cost of your funeral. If your estate could easily cover the cost of a funeral (even with the likely increases), or your family has the money, a basic plan might be your best option.
02
Compare a number of funeral plans
A comparison site is a good way of taking the legwork out of finding a number of suitable plans. Remember that funeral plans can be complicated so examine the policy carefully speak to someone in person if you are unsure about the details.
03
Break down the costs of funeral-plan providers
Funeral plans can differ quite a lot. Check out the plans for a full breakdown of what is included.
04
Pay as soon as you can
Funeral plan providers give you the option of paying either in instalments or in a lump sum. You will most likely have the option to pay over 12 - 120 months. Paying in instalments for a long time will cost more due to administration fees and interest.
Just increasing payments to over 60 months can add around 15%-26% to the overall cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common funeral plan questions. Should you have any further questions please contact us for more info.
01. What is a Funeral Plan?
A funeral plan lets you arrange and pay for your or someone elses funeral in advance. They also allow you to fix the cost of most elements of the funeral at today’s prices, protecting you from future inflation of funeral related costs.
It’s an easy way to get your funeral arranged whilst protecting loved ones from rising costs and uncertainty about your final wishes.
02. What is a funeral plan provider?
A funeral plan provider is an organisation that allows people to pay funerals in advance. These providers may be funeral directors, subsidiary companies of a funeral director, or separate companies who work alongside funeral directors to carry out funerals on their behalf.
03. What should I think about when buying a funeral plan?
Firstly we would suggest you look for a plan from a provider who is registered with the FPA to give you reassurance that the provider is compliant with a stringent set of rules and standards.
Then you music think about what services you want included in the plan. It is particularly important that you understand any subsidiary costs involved ie: third party payments such as crematorium/burial/transport. A further factor to be considered might be what happens if you move to somewhere else.
Investigate cancellation arrangements in the unlikely event that you wish to terminate the contract with your provider.
As uncomfortable as it might be, discuss your funeral plans with family and friends. Explain exactly what you have purchased with those close to you and what exactly it covers. This will mean they are better informed when liaising with your plan provider to confirm your funeral arrangements at some point in the future.
04. Should I pay in lump sums or instalments?
This entirely up to you though most providers will add an charges if instalments are spread over more than 12 months, so consider the financial impact of this. You should also be aware that a payment plan will normally require the payment of any outstanding instalments by your family if death occurs first.
There are insurance backed plans where no further payment would be required, though though you would only get back the contributions paid.
There are insurance backed plans where no further payment would be required, though though you would only get back the contributions paid.
05. What happens to the money I pay for a plan?
If you take out a plan with an FPA Registered Provider, they do not hold the money but use it to either purchase a whole of life insurance policy on your life or place the money in a trust. This is to ensure that if the provider went out of business, the assets to pay for your funeral would protected.
The FPA regularly check that providers are sticking to the rules, supported by actuarial assessments in the case of trust based arrangements.
06. Does the money paid cover the entire cost of the funeral?
Make sure you read the terms and conditions of the plan you are planning to purchase and make special note of everything it covers. Sometimes, third party costs, known as disbursements, may not be included in the plan as they are not part of the funeral director’s duties. Disbursements may include things like medical fees, obituaries, orders of service and so on.
If certain costs are not covered, the plan may offer the chance to purchase them alongside it. However, if at the time of death, these costs have not yet been covered, additional payment may be required. The cost of a burial plot or interment fees are usually extra.
Protection
A prepaid funeral plan protects you against the rising costs of funerals, allowing you to pay for your funeral in advance so your relatives don't have to cover all the costs themselves. Choosing a funeral plan now will help protect your loved ones from a lot of stress and financial worry in the future.
Peace Of Mind
From choosing your funeral director and dealing with paperwork, to organising the service and transport arrangements, everything in the plan will have been taken care of when the time does eventually come. For complete peace of mind, it really is essential to be financially prepared.
More Information
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