Funeral Costs, Paying For A FuneraI

Research recently carried out for the friendly society
Oddfellows discovered that the average cost of a burial
in Britain had risen to £2048 and the cost of a cremation
to £1215 (March 2000). Over the last nine years the cost
of burials has risen by 129% and cremations by 67%. 
The research found that there were big regional variations. 
Burials in London being most expensive at an average
of £2646 some £598 higher than the national average.
The cheapest place for a burial is South West England
where a standard service cost £1545 and the cheapest
for region cremations is the North of England at an 
average price of £959.

You may have to consider a personal loan to cover the
cost. There follows a list of some of the major lenders and
their websites.
         
        AIB Group
        BankNet
        Bank of Scotland
        Barclays Bank
        Bradford & Bingley Building Society
        Bristol & West Building Society
        Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society
        The Co-operative Bank
        Direct Line Group
        Halifax
        Lloyds TSB
        Midland Bank
        Money Net
        Nationwide Building Society
        NatWest
        Northern Rock
        Woolwich Building Society

Paying for a funeral can be a source of worry for 
many people. Here are some suggestions of how
to pay the bill.

* Only order what you can afford.
  Ask the funeral director, if using one for an itemised 
  quotation and make sure that everything you have
  requested  is included.
* Check whether the deceased had a pre-payment plan.
  This may stipulate the funeral director you can use and
  may not include everything that you have asked for so 
  you may have to pay the extras.
* Check if the deceased has sufficient funds in their bank
  or building society account to pay the bill. Most banks 
  and building society will release funds to pay for funeral
  expenses.
* Does the deceased have insurance policies that could
  pay the bill?

The person responsible for arranging the funeral may be 
eligible for help from Government funds. The Department
of Social Security produce two leaflets which include 
information about Social Fund funeral payments :
	
D49   What to do after death in England and Wales
D49s  What to do after death in Scotland

Whether help is available will depend on the financial
status of  the responsible person arranging the funeral.
It makes no difference if the deceased was in receipt of 
benefit. Awards will not be considered if there is a close
relative who could afford to pay for the funeral.
Payments are made from the Social Fund to eligible 
applicants for up to £2000 towards the funeral costs. 
The relevant Benefits Agency form (SF200) and the 
funeral directors account needs to be submitted.
The excess cost above £600 ,or if the claim is 
unsuccessful, the whole amount must be paid by the
responsible person arranging the funeral.


		Research recently carried out for the friendly society Oddfellows discovered that the average cost of a burial in Britain had risen to £2048 and the cost of a cremation to £1215 (March 2000). Over the last nine years the cost of burials has risen by 129% and cremations by 67%. The research found that there were big regional variations. Burials in London being most expensive at an average of £2646 some £598 higher than the national average. The cheapest place for a burial is South West England where a standard service cost £1545 and the cheapest for region cremations is the North of England at an average price of £959. You may have to consider a personal loan to cover the cost. There follows a list of some of the major lenders and their websites. AIB Group BankNet Bank of Scotland Barclays Bank Bradford & Bingley Building Society Bristol & West Building Society Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society The Co-operative Bank Direct Line Group Halifax Lloyds TSB Midland Bank Money Net Nationwide Building Society NatWest Northern Rock Woolwich Building Society Paying for a funeral can be a source of worry for many people. Here are some suggestions of how to pay the bill. * Only order what you can afford. Ask the funeral director, if using one for an itemised quotation and make sure that everything you have requested is included. * Check whether the deceased had a pre-payment plan. This may stipulate the funeral director you can use and may not include everything that you have asked for so you may have to pay the extras. * Check if the deceased has sufficient funds in their bank or building society account to pay the bill. Most banks and building society will release funds to pay for funeral expenses. * Does the deceased have insurance policies that could pay the bill? The person responsible for arranging the funeral may be eligible for help from Government funds. The Department of Social Security produce two leaflets which include information about Social Fund funeral payments : D49 What to do after death in England and Wales D49s What to do after death in Scotland Whether help is available will depend on the financial status of the responsible person arranging the funeral. It makes no difference if the deceased was in receipt of benefit. Awards will not be considered if there is a close relative who could afford to pay for the funeral. Payments are made from the Social Fund to eligible applicants for up to £2000 towards the funeral costs. The relevant Benefits Agency form (SF200) and the funeral directors account needs to be submitted. The excess cost above £600 ,or if the claim is unsuccessful, the whole amount must be paid by the responsible person arranging the funeral. Legals