The Bottom Line

​Funerals can be expensive—or they can be reasonably priced. The question is, "How can we honor the deceased with authenticity and dignity, regardless of budget?" Family- and community-led funerals using products already available in the home or within the support network, plus research to find the best price for what you truly want, all add up to prudent spending and a meaningful final exit.

​On This Page

  • Social Security benefit
  • Military and veteran's benefits
  • Trusts, insurance, & bank accounts
  • Public assistance
  • Education & charity nonprofits
  • Crowdsourcing

Social Security Benefits

​The family, designated agent, or funeral director must file to receive Social Security death benefits of $255. To obtain Social Security Administration information, go to Social Security. Check out Funeralwise for more info on Social Security and VA benefits. In Washington, benefits are awarded only to spouses and dependent children.

Military and Veterans Benefits

Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs for information on benefits. Among other things, you may be entitled to a U.S. flag from the Post Office, to be used at a memorial service, by presenting a certified copy of the death certificate and proof of military service. You may also qualify for a free gravesite in a VA cemetery. Toll-free: 800-827-1000. Veteran's death benefits may include the following. Contact the VA to learn if you qualify for:
  • a $300 burial expense reimbursement.
  • a $300 burial plot assistance payment for burials not in VA cemeteries.
  • a $2000 active duty or service-connected death benefit.
  • a travel allowance​.

Trusts, Insurance, and Bank Accounts

Funeral Director's Trust
When using a funeral home, you may be offered the opportunity to prepay into what is called a Funeral Director’s Trust. Be aware that the money held there is not transferrable or refundable. It may be sold multiple times over its shelf life, held and bought by other funds. The Funeral Consumers Alliance warns consumers not to prepay in long-term circumstances for this and several other reasons, including the possibility that they may go out of business, and there will be no remedy for recovering your funds.

Burial Insurance
Burial insurance policies are usually offered by life insurance companies in the form of term or whole life policies. Upon death, the company pays out the full amount directly to your beneficiary, and he or she can spend it any way they choose, perhaps to pay medical or legal bills—or something entirely different. If you pay for a $20,000 funeral and your family chooses a $2000 cremation, you can see the potential situation. Some burial insurance policies have been known to lose value over time as well and are nonrefundable should you change your mind at any time. The upside is that money paid for insurance premiums is considered a Medicaid-protected asset.

Preneed Insurance
Preneed insurance is similar in some ways to burial insurance, in that it is a policy that will pay out upon death for funeral expenses, merchandise, cremations and burials, and all that entails. It may be a good protection against inflation if you hold the policy long enough, as it locks in the price at the moment. However, instead of going to your family, the beneficiary is usually made payable to the funeral home, and you will have to trust that the terms of your agreement are met. It is also a Medicaid-protected asset.

Payable on Death (POD) Bank Account
Perhaps the most sensible approach is a good old-fashioned bank account, designated as a payable on death account, set up with funds of your choosing that may earn a modest interest over time. Your next-of-kin or Durable Power for Finance will have easy access to the money immediately, and you can update your wishes any time directly with him or her. The only downside is that the money is not Medicaid-protected and the designated beneficiary is not legally obligated to use this money as you have directed. They receive this money outright, so make sure they understand your intention for these funds and will honor them.

Public Assistance

The State of Washington does not have a “burial assistance” fund. Members of the public often confuse the Washington Department of Public Assistance program, which provides a small partial reimbursement to funeral homes that take care of individuals who have died and either have no one to take care of their final expenses or whose family members refuse or are unable to take financial responsibility for the care of their loved one. Members of the public cannot apply to this fund—by law, it may only be used to offset the costs that a funeral home incurs when taking care of indigent deaths. (See Information on Indigent Disposition in Washington and Washington Indigent Remains Law for Counties.)

A Word About Nonprofit Charity and Crowdsourcing

Many nonprofits that provide consumer information and education receive calls frequently asking for money to help pay for a funeral. Three things to remember before making that call: 1) not all nonprofits are charitable foundations; 2) failure to plan for a funeral does not make it someone else's financial responsibility; and 3) educational websites like this one endeavor to assist families to find ways to consume less, reducing unnecessary costs.
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Another means of raising money for a funeral is crowdsourcing on social media. This started out working well but, more and more, people are becoming weary—and leery—of being asked for money online. Perhaps it's time to bring back the old custom of offering money discreetly to the widow/er to help defray costs, or to “pass the hat” within a community so that mourners may contribute as they choose.

Resources and Online Links

​FCA = Funeral Consumer Alliance
​GBC = Green Burial Council
NEDA = National End-of-Life Doula Alliance
NHFA = National Home Funeral Alliance
Washington Funeral Resources and Education is a non-commercial public interest site dedicated to helping Washington consumers care for their own dead with or without the assistance of a funeral director. See FuneralPartnership.org for more state funeral information. This site is maintained as a project of White Eagle Memorial Preserve and Sacred Earth Foundation, which coordinates responses to inquiries with other Washington-based organizations and practitioners that support the mission of the Funeral Partnership.
Disclaimer: 
This website has been created by volunteers making reasonable efforts to provide resources and materials for informational purposes only. Any information you obtain from this website is not legal advice and should not be relied upon without confirmation of current law. No warranties, expressed or implied, are made with respect to the information herein. There is no guarantee that the information contained here is complete or up-to-date as of the date that you view this site. ​The agencies linked via hyperlinks are responsible for the content of those sites. Their information is subject to change and should be consulted directly to ensure accurate and up-to-date information. Please report any inaccuracies to us in the form on the CONTACT page. Thank you!