Another Way to Get Money for Funerals--Crowdfunding

Our most popular posting is on the topic of money to bury the dead. It makes sense--it's expensive to live if you are poor, but even more expensive to die and be buried. 

But if the public burial of the poor is one of the oldest social services, then it is also the cause for some of mankind's oldest crowdfunding.  What is more firmly rooted in tradition than the envelope with money for the deceased's family? 

So don't hate on crowdfunding as the latest innovation in funeral monetary assistance. Some websites that were created for other crowdfunding ideas have embraced the funding of funerals, like GoFundMe. However, some were created to help out in time of personal crisis, like Youcaring.com and Funeralfunding.com. In each case, you create an account that directs contributions to PayPal or WePay. In the case of Funeralfunding, the campaign can last a maximum of two weeks. 


If you want more than the bare burial or cremation provided by the state for indigent, you might want to consider crowdfunding.  See this story in Forbes for more insight.

More on Finding Funds for Burial

The biggest posting on this blog is the one dealing with with burial funds.  There are a few foundations, and a few sources out of the mainstream, but the biggest source of funds are state and local government.  Check out the sources I have at this previous burial post, but if your local or state government is not listed, here's some things to remember while searching for indigent burial funds:

1) Who pays for what is usually determined by state law.  Check the state laws for your state to see where the responsibility lies for indigent burial.  In Minnesota, it's the county government. In Ohio, it's municipal or township governments.  In Michigan, it's the state government itself.  Check the state codes, and use the terms "indigent burial."  Which department of the government is responsible can vary, too.  In Toledo, it's the Department of Parks and Forestry (because they run the city cemeteries).  Often, however, it's the social services department, whatever name that may go by in your locality. 

2) What is paid varies wildly from one locale to another--indeed, what is paid for varies, too.  In Toledo, Ohio, indigents receive a cremation and burial in a cemetery.  Some locales provide money towards a service chosen by the family (but with a limit on the amount given and spent).  Before making arrangements and plans, check the limitations on spending with the local or state officials. 

3)  Finally, we are in the age of public austerity.  Remember the cutbacks on all that wasteful government spending?  This is part of it.  Often, state law will require counties or municipalities to bury indigents, but do not provide funds.  Keep all this in mind before making plans.

How to Get a Military Honors Funeral

We have written about getting assistance for the expense of a funeral, and veterans burial allowances.  However, veterans who were other than dishonorably discharged and were killed in combat or served their full tour of duty are eligible for military honors at their funeral.  The basic elements of this are the playing of taps, the flag folding ceremony, and the flag presentation.  These are provided free of charge at the funeral of an eligible veteran. Afterwards, the flag is given to the veteran's next of kin.  If there are no next of kin, a friend may apply to receive the flag. 

Other elements--the caisson, rifle detail, pall bearers, color guard--are available if there are resources. To arrange for military honors at the funeral of a veteran, notify the funeral director.  There must be 48 hours notice for a military honors funeral.

Headstones for the unmarked graves of military veterans are also available as a benefit.   A marker or medallion (to fix on the headstone of a privately purchased headstone) may also be available for those who have died after 1990.  To find out about cemetery headstones, markers or medallions, call 1-800-697-6947, Monday through Friday, 8-5, Eastern Time.

Where to Look for Burial Funding Assistance

Providing the poor with a decent, dignified burial is one of the oldest social services on earth.  If you need help with the expenses of burying a loved one, here are some places to look:

--If your locality has a 211 agency referral number, call ask the referal experts to see if there are any agencies that provide burial expenses.  If your area has a searchable website, search under "burial/creamation expense assistance."

The Funeral Consumers Alliance, a fine organization, has a page devoted to indigent funerals, including a state-by-state chart of public funeral funding.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs also provides some assistance to members of federally recognized tribes if they lack other resources.  See this site for details on how to file for assistance. 

--Your state's social service agency.  Some help with burial expenses for poor people.  In Michigan, this is the website for burial assistance.   

Another source for help in Michigan for the families of those who commit suicide is the nonprofit group Six Feet Over, which offers assistance with the cleanup, funeral and memorial for the victim.  See their website (bottom of the page) for financial assistance).

 --In the city of Toledo, the Cemetary Office of the Department of Parks and Recreation handles the cremation and burial of indigents.  Their website is in need of modifications.  Please call directly at 419 936 3081.

 --FYI, here's a page from the Ohio Legislative Services (albeit 2007) on the obligation of local and state government to provide burial or cremation for certain poor people, like veterans and residents of state institutions.  According to 9.15 of the Ohio Revised Code, if an indigent person dies and is not a resident of an institution, the city or municipality must pay for the cost of a burial or cremation.  The government body is not absolved of the cost of a burial or cremation if the body is claimed by an indigent person.

--Here's a listing of some indigent burial services in the greater Cleveland area, courtesy of the 211 referral service.

--Some counties help with indigent funerals.  In Florida, contact your county's human services agency.

--In Oregon, indigent burial costs can be applied for at the state Department of Health.

--In Pennsylvania, here's the state regulations and who to contact for indigent burial.

--In Alaska, here's the site of the state social service agency that has "limited" funds for that.

--In Alabama, the county has the responsibility to provide a small sum for the burial of indigents, and those whose relatives cannot bury them.  In the case of deaths on the job, the employer is supposed to pay up to $3000 towards the funeral.

--In Illinois, it's covered by the Department of Family and Community Services, and here's the informational link.  For more information, call  (217) 524-5294 or (217) 558-6653. 

--In the District of Columbia, there's the Department of Human Services, which will give $800 towards a funeral or $450 for a cremation.  The total cost of the funeral cannot be over $2000.

--In Louisiana, the burial of paupers may be paid for by the municipality or parish where they died, with each city or parish establishing the maximum amount paid.  If the pauper were in a state institution, the state of Louisiana is responsible for their burial.

--In Georgia, the county deals with costs for the burial of indigents, and you start by contacting the county's Department of Social Services. Here's a useful publication to give more details--see #16.

--Here's the state information on indigent burial assistance in the state of Indiana.

 .--In New York, there is a guide for burial assistance options.  It's been updated (2011) and may give you an idea of where to go for help. There’s also assistance for New York City residents of up to $900 and an application online.

--For indigent people of the Jewish faith in the New York City area, the Hebrew Free Burial Association will provide a religiously and culturally appropriate funeral.

--Social security.  There is a small lump sum amount at the death of a Social Security recipient ($255).

--Was the deceased a veteran?  Besides VA benefits, some states have burial funds for veterans.  For veterans who have died in military conflict, while a resident of a VA-approved nursing home, receiving veteran's pension or other circumstances, they may be entitled to more compensation.  See this page.  Check your state's veterans office.  Here' the information for Ohio veterans burial benefits.

--Did they die as the result of a crime?  Some states have benefits for those who have died as the result of a crime

--Did they die as a result of a federally-declared disaster?  If so, and the family has no financial resources for burial, they may be eligible for disaster aid.   If so, contact FEMA at 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362) for more information.

--Religious organizations. If you are a member of a church or denomination, they may help the burial of indigent people in that faith. 

--If the deceased is a child, there are organizations that assist in funding the burial of children in parts of the U.S.  The Unforgettables helps with funeral expenses of children in Orange County, San Bernadino and Riverside, California.  AMT Children of Hope, based in the New York City area, works to prevent the abandonment of infants, but also provides assistance for the burial of children.  Child Burial Assistance Inc. of Georgia also helps child burials in that state.  In Michigan, the Olivia Raines Foundation helps up to $500 with the cost of an infant's burial.  In California, the Emilio Nares Foundation helps with the cost of children who die of cancer in their area of service.  Call 1 (877) 507-7788 for more information.

AgapeCare Cradle, Inc offers financial help for the burial of infants in the Witchita, Kansas area.

The Tears Foundation will assist in funding the burial of an infant between 20 weeks gestation and 1 year old in the states of New York, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and Washington state, if there are sufficient funds.  You can contact them at (253) 200-0944.

--The angels of Aidpage came up with another winner: a page full of suggestions on burial financial help.  They include references to several individual cities.  like Milwaukee,   The link to Nashville is dead, but I found the new Nashville burial help site here, and here is the Maryland burial site.  Colorado has burial assistance also.

--Another possibility is crowdfunding. See this blog entry for more.

***See more on indigent burial at this entry.****