Funeral plans vs insurance vs savings

Mojisola

Malthusian wrote: »

True but it is debatable whether anyone on means tested benefits should be cutting themselves to the bone in order to save up for a funeral.

It depends on your priorities. My parents wanted to be sure that their funerals were sorted out - they were always frugal (from necessary) throughout their lives and were able to find the money.

They had bad memories of some members of the earlier generations of the family having to have paupers funerals and so the importance of their own funerals weighed heavier on them than on us younger ones.

DigForVictory

My lad, being a cheerful heedless youth, had no savings or organised plan & we are having to figure what he would gave wanted. It’s tough. If you just tell some funeral directors what you fancy, some keep that in file til your family need to know. Kinder to leave it documented, I think.

Once we’ve buried our lad, I will be buying into a funeral plan to make life easier for the survivors. May be not be enough but clarity is undervalued.

KazBlue

My exhubby died 29th Nov 2019 we were held to ransom before there funeral even though the company knew we were going for a grant. They wanted half the money up front or no funeral. I managed to blag it with a sealed envelope with £500 I had borrowed from my family I gave it to the director when I got into the chapel of rest. Now we have 10 days and havent heard from the DWP even though I sent the forms before Christmas. I am at a loss of what to do I am working on behalf his exectutor our daughter who has Aspergers and is 21. Any ideas please?

Malthusian

KazBlue wrote: »

My exhubby died 29th Nov 2019 we were held to ransom before there funeral even though the company knew we were going for a grant. They wanted half the money up front or no funeral. I managed to blag it with a sealed envelope with £500 I had borrowed from my family I gave it to the director when I got into the chapel of rest. Now we have 10 days and havent heard from the DWP even though I sent the forms before Christmas. I am at a loss of what to do I am working on behalf his exectutor our daughter who has Aspergers and is 21. Any ideas please?

You may have more luck and eyeballs if you start a new thread. Unfortunately I have no practical advice beyond chasing the DWP. I hope no-one put pressure on you to borrow money to pay for your ex-husband's funeral.

Because of the Christmas and New Year period, "before Christmas" may as well be "last week" if it means just before. It would still be a good idea to chase.