Tips for Paying for Cremation Services

Cremation services in Davenport, IA, though cheaper than other body disposition methods, can get pretty pricey. They can be expensive even for just the basic cremation and not including extra money for a service or memorial. How are you supposed to pay for a cremation when you’re already suffering from the loss of your loved one? 

Luckily there are ways you can get more affordable cremation services. Here are four ways you can get help paying for or lower the cost of a cremation: 

1. Preplanning - Check the deceased’s papers and information to see if they made any plans to help pay for their cremation. Preplanning often includes setting money aside for cremation or funeral services. They might have put in place things such as prepaying programs, funeral insurance, life insurance, and payable-on-death bank accounts. 
   
2. Fund Raising - Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your community, neighborhood, friends or other family. You’d be surprised how quickly people will chip in. Get creative with fund raising like car washes or bake sales, church groups or donations, memorial funds at the deceased’s workplace or bank, and crowd funding websites like GoFundMe.com or GiveForward.com. Social media is also a great tool to make your need known and get more people involved. Don’t be afraid to share any fund raising or write posts about your need. 
   
3. Government Assistance - Local, state and even federal government programs can help pay for funerals and cremations. Check with your local social service, county treasurer, or public fiduciary to see if any systems are in place. These programs have varying requirements, especially since local government budgets are tight, and they are making such programs more difficult to qualify for. Be sure to double check that you are eligible. The Social Security Administration can also provide assistance. Call to report a death and you may be eligible for a lump sum of $225 or other survivor benefits. Other federal programs that can help include Medicare, Medicaid, The Bureau of Indian Affairs, The Railroad Retirement Board, and the Veteran’s Administration. 
   
4. Low Cost Options - If you still can’t get enough funding, there are tons of low-cost funeral and cremation options you can choose from, including: 

• Direct cremation 
  
• Burial on family land or a family plot 
  
• Memorial service at home or a community center 
  
• Pot-luck food for the service 
  
• Service at a church or other religious establishment 
  
• Body donation to a medical school or other organization (Science Care is the world’s largest body donor program) 

Remember, there is no shame in asking for help paying for a cremation or other death-related service, as everyone needs help now and again. 

Trimble Funeral Home & Crematory is here to help if you want more tips on how to save money on a cremation, or would like to learn more about your Davenport, IA cremation service options. We have years of experience that we would love to put at your disposal. Stop by and visit us or give us a call for more information on what we can do for you in your time of loss.