A quick guide to how pre-paid funeral plans work

It can be difficult to consider your own funeral but avoiding the preparations could leave your family in financial difficulty in the event of your passing. Pre-paid funeral plans are an effective way to protect those you love when the time comes, but how do these plans work? In this guide, we’ll explain the benefits of choosing a pre-paid funeral plan, what these plans cover and how to choose the right provider.

What is a pre-paid funeral plan?

Pre-paid funeral plans protect you against the rising costs of funerals, enabling you to pay for the services in advance so your family doesn’t need to find the money to cover the costs themselves. Planning and paying for a funeral is incredibly stressful and causes a lot of worry – pre-paid plans help to mitigate this stress during an already emotionally difficult time.

The benefits of pre-paid funeral plans

Pre-paid funeral plans are designed to cover the majority of the costs of the funeral, ensuring that the financial burden doesn’t fall on your family. When you buy a pre-paid funeral plan, you have the option to choose various elements of the funeral, such as whether you want to be buried or cremated. But it also means that choosing a funeral director, deciding between the type of service you want, and transport arrangements are all dealt with so your family don’t need to worry that they’re not adhering to your wishes.

For some people, there’s comfort in being able to make these decisions in advance, with the added benefit that their families won’t have to deal with making these difficult decisions during an emotionally turbulent time. The costs can be paid monthly or in a lump sum, and are priced at today’s costs, so you don’t need to worry about rising funeral costs.

What is covered by a pre-paid funeral plan?

The two main costs covered are the cost of the cremation of burial, and the funeral director’s fees, which can reach thousands of pounds. But most plans will also cover things like caring for the body, minister’s fees, and the funeral service. You may also be covered for transport to the service. However, it’s important to remember that a plan is unlikely to cover all the related costs and n most cases some things will still need to be paid for.

What to look for when buying a pre-paid funeral plan

It’s important when searching for a pre-paid funeral plan that you check what is and isn’t covered, and that you compare products carefully. You need to be clear on the inclusions and exclusions of your contract, so that your family aren’t faced with unexpected costs when the time comes. You should also check that the provider is covered by the Financial Conduct Authority, for peace of mind that your money and plan are secure.