Financial Support
Options for Funeral Expenses
Funeral Financial Support in Trenton, NJ. Resources and payment plans designed to ease your financial burden during difficult times across New Jersey and Pennsylvania with 24/7 support to guide you through every step.
Guidance for Funeral Costs, Payment Options, and Family Support
Planning a funeral, cremation, burial, memorial service, or repatriation can bring emotional and financial questions at the same time. Our team is here to help you understand available services, discuss costs, and make decisions that honor your loved one while respecting your family’s needs.
Common items that may affect cost include:
- Funeral service or memorial service
- Viewing or visitation
- Burial or cremation arrangements
- Transportation of your loved one
- Casket, urn, or memorial products
- Cemetery or graveside coordination
- Death certificates and permits
- Obituary or memorial printing
- Religious or cultural service needs
- Domestic or international repatriation
Our team can review available options with your family and explain each step clearly.
Funeral costs can vary depending on the type of service selected, transportation needs, cemetery charges, cremation or burial arrangements, memorial products, documentation, permits, and any special family requests.
Understanding Funeral Costs
General Price List
Families have the right to receive clear information about funeral service options and pricing. International Funeral Service Southview can provide a General Price List so families can better understand available goods, services, and related costs before making decisions.
The General Price List may help families compare options such as funeral services, cremation services, transportation, memorial items, and other arrangement needs.
Payment Options for Funeral Costs
Insurance Coverage
Financing Plans
Government Assistance
Veteran Benefits
Pre-Payment Options
Charitable Support
Payment by Credit Card
Personal Loans
Several financial aid programs are available to help families manage funeral expenses, including government assistance, nonprofit grants, and local community funds. These resources aim to ease the financial burden during difficult times.
Community organizations and funeral homes often provide guidance on payment plans, insurance claims, and financing options. Families can also access counseling and support services to navigate both financial and emotional challenges.
Families may be eligible for financial assistance through federal, state, county, veterans, disaster, or victim compensation programs. Assistance depends on eligibility, documentation, cause of death, military service, income, location, and whether other benefits or insurance are available. International Funeral Service Southview can help families understand what documents may be needed, but each program makes its own eligibility and payment decisions.
Available Financial Aid and Support Resources
NJSFDA
SSI
Veteran Benefit
There are public assistance programs available, based on specific eligibility requirements that are designed to help with funeral and burial expenses. These programs include: Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and Work First NJ
Financial Assistance Details:
State Funding Limit: Up to $2,246 for funeral expenses and $524 for cemetery or crematory costs, totaling a maximum of $2,770.
Supplemental Limit: Family and friends may add up to $1,570 more, keeping the total cost under $4,340.
Learn about options that may be available to you below.
New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association
Social Security Administration
There is a one-time payment of $255 from the Social Security Administration for an eligible surviving spouse of someone receiving certain Social Security benefits that is meant to help pay for funeral costs. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment can be made to a child who is eligible for benefits.
The surviving spouse/child will need to contact the Social Security Administration, 800-772-1213, and notify as soon as possible when a person dies. Usually, as a funeral director the report of death is done when filing a death certificate on the informant’s behalf, but to do so, the informant will need to furnish the decedent’s Social Security number to a director so the report can be made.
For more information, you can visit the Social Security Administration website for more details.
Veteran Benefit Burial Allowance
All veterans are entitled to burial in a national cemetery, a granite or marble headstone (regardless of the cemetery), and a flag. There will be no charges for opening or closing the grave, a vault or liner, or setting the marker in a national cemetery. Usually, a family is responsible for all other expenses including transportation to the cemetery.
Veteran funeral benefits vary depending on the circumstances of death, service connection, VA care status, and burial location. If death occurs during active duty, the military generally covers funeral expenses, including preparation, casket, transportation, national cemetery burial, marker, and a $100,000 death gratuity for next of kin.
For service-related deaths, a burial allowance may help with funeral costs, transportation, and cemetery expenses. For non-service-related deaths, VA support may be limited and depends on whether the veteran passed in a VA facility or was receiving VA pension or disability compensation. Families should understand that national cemetery burial, markers, and flags may be available, but many funeral home, cemetery, transportation, lot, vault, and opening or closing costs may still be the family’s responsibility.
For more information on Veteran Benefits, visit our dedicated Veteran’s section here on our website or visit the link below to the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
NJ Victims of Crime
NJ Workers’ Compensation
Pennsylvania DHS
If the death resulted from a qualifying crime, eligible families may apply for victim compensation. Benefits may help with funeral costs, transportation to the funeral, counseling, loss of support, and other crime-related expenses.
Up to $7,500 for funeral costs; transportation to funeral may be covered up to $500 per person / $3,000 total; overall claim maximum may apply.
Apply through the New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The claim is generally payer of last resort, meaning other available sources are considered first.
New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office
New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits
If a death is work-related, the employer or workers’ compensation insurance carrier may be responsible for funeral expenses. Eligible dependents may also receive weekly death benefits.
Funeral allowance may be up to $5,000, based on NJ workers’ compensation benefit schedules.
Apply or learn more through the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development
Pennsylvania Burial and Cremation Services Payment
For Pennsylvania residents, the Department of Human Services may help pay burial or cremation costs for eligible individuals, including certain SSI or cash-assistance recipients. Eligibility is handled through the local County Assistance Office.
DHS payment is generally up to $750, or the remainder after resources are applied, depending on countable resources and eligibility.
Apply through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services / local County Assistance Office.
Financial Assistance FAQs
What funeral financial assistance programs are available?
Families may qualify for funeral financial assistance through programs such as Social Security, Veterans Affairs, FEMA, county assistance, victim compensation, workers’ compensation, public safety employee benefits, and state or local support programs. Eligibility depends on the person’s situation, cause of death, income, military service, residency, and available documentation.
Does Social Security help pay for funeral expenses?
Social Security may provide a small one-time lump-sum death payment to an eligible surviving spouse or qualifying child. This benefit does not usually cover full funeral costs, but it may help with a portion of expenses.
Can veterans receive help with funeral or burial costs?
Yes. Eligible veterans may qualify for VA burial benefits, burial allowances, national cemetery burial, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and other related benefits. The amount and type of assistance depend on eligibility, service history, cause of death, and burial location.
Does FEMA help with funeral expenses?
FEMA may provide funeral assistance when a death is connected to a federally declared disaster. Families must meet FEMA eligibility rules and provide required documents, such as funeral receipts, a death certificate, and proof that the expenses were not fully covered by another source.
Is there funeral assistance for low-income families in New Jersey?
Some families may qualify for funeral or burial assistance through county or state public assistance programs. Eligibility may depend on income, available resources, residency, and county approval. Families in Trenton may contact the appropriate Mercer County office for current requirements.
Can funeral assistance help with cremation costs?
Yes, some assistance programs may help with cremation costs if the family qualifies. Coverage depends on the program and may include basic cremation, transportation, permits, death certificates, or related approved expenses.
Is there financial help if the death was caused by a crime?
Yes. Families may qualify for victim compensation benefits if the death resulted from a qualifying crime. These programs may help with funeral expenses, counseling, loss of support, and other eligible costs, depending on approval and documentation.
Can life insurance be used to pay funeral costs?
In many cases, life insurance may help pay for funeral, cremation, burial, or transportation costs. The process depends on the insurance company, policy type, beneficiary information, and required documents. Families should contact the insurer as early as possible.
What documents are usually needed to apply for funeral assistance?
Common documents may include a death certificate, funeral home contract, paid or unpaid funeral bill, proof of relationship, proof of income or benefits, veteran records if applicable, insurance information, and identification. Requirements vary by program.
Can International Funeral Service Southview help me understand my options?
Yes. Our team can help families understand what documents may be needed and explain possible funeral financial assistance resources. Each agency or program makes its own eligibility and payment decisions.
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