Government Benefits
What Government Benefits Are Available for Cremation?
Multiple federal and local agencies can provide assistance with cremation costs, as long as certain requirements are met and all necessary forms are filled out. These benefits can provide support to families who have lost a loved one and are considering cremation services.
Federal agencies that may provide funeral and cremation benefits include:
- The Social Security Administration (SSA)
- Veterans’ Affairs (VA)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
In addition to these federal agencies, many states have county-level support programs in place to assist with cremation expenses.
Questions About Government Benefits
There Are State Benefits Available
Beyond federal government agencies, some local organizations may also help with cremation expenses. Some states do provide assistance at the state level, but many leave this to county and local-level authorities.
In Florida, there aren’t state-level programs available, but there are some county-level agencies that can help. A program in Escambia County, for example, can assist with cremation costs for indigent residents (decedents unclaimed by next of kin).
To determine what state and county programs are available, contact the state or county’s health department. They should be able to provide information on any benefit programs.
A traditional funeral and burial costs several thousand dollars, and may cost more than $10,000, depending on where the service is taking place. Even with government assistance, it may be impossible to cover all, or even most of those costs.
The cost of direct cremation services is only about 10 percent of a traditional funeral with a burial. With assistance, cremation expenses can be completely accounted for, relieving families of their financial burden when death occurs. This is just one, among several, reasons why most Americans now choose cremation over other burial and memorializing options.