How Missouri Residents Afford Funeral Expenses
As time chugs forward, funeral expenses continue to increase. It's almost impossible to have a "cheap" funeral in this day and age, as the average price for a full service is an eye-popping $7,270. However, Missouri offers slightly more affordable services, depending on the type you want.
In this article, we'll discover the services available to Missouri residents and how you can afford one when your loved one passes.
Average Funeral Expenses In Missouri
Funerals range from $1,743 to $7,270 based on the kind of service you want to hold. Of course, this usually depends on the service desired by your dearly departed loved one. But if they don't have a preference, it's up to you (or whoever oversees arranging the celebration of life).
To make it easier, we've included the average cost of funeral types in the state below:
| Type of Funeral | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cremation | It doesn't include a ceremony or viewing. | $1,743 |
| Immediate burial | It doesn't have a ceremony or viewing. | $1,000 |
| Cremation memorial | It includes facility fees, the service, and viewing. | $3,000 |
| Full service | It includes facility fees, viewing, and embalming. | $7,270 |
The price of a full service comprises a variety of components, including:
- Essential services — $2,066
- Funeral home transfer — $330
- Embalming — $679
- Casketing and dressing — $274
- Viewing — $430
- Ceremony — $508
- Hearse and utility vehicle — $483
- Median-priced casket — $2,500
Keep in mind the above shows average prices; your funeral may be more expensive if you purchase a higher-end casket or require more than basic services.
How To Pay For Funeral Expenses As A Missouri Resident
While we're advocates for saving for often-unexpected funeral expenses, if the worst occurs and there isn't enough money in the bank, you aren't alone. As a Missouri resident, you have various funding options, as you'll see below:
1. Use Federal Government Funding
If you are eligible for social security benefits, you can access a $255 one-time death benefit.
The Missouri state government doesn't provide funeral assistance unless the deceased didn't have any relatives or monetary supporters and is indigent. The program is known as the Indigent Burial and Funeral Fund. You'll receive $400 to pay for the burial of the person who qualified for the scheme.
2. Veteran And Dependent Burial In VA National Cemeteries
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a final resting place in a national cemetery for veterans and their families. It commemorates their service to the country.
If you or your loved one qualifies for this help, you will receive:
- A plot in a national cemetery with available space
- Grave opening and closing
- Perpetual care
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
- A burial flag
- A government grave marker or headstone
You can schedule a burial by emailing NCA.Scheduling@va.gov or by faxing the deceased's discharge papers to 866-900-6417 and following with a phone call on 800-535-1117.
To be eligible, you need to submit eligibility documentation. But if you don't have it to hand, one of the staff members will help you through the verification process. Just keep in mind that it may take several days for the administration to retrieve archived documents.
3. Disaster Funeral Assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers disaster funeral assistance to help with the costs of unexpected and/or uninsured death of a family member. The unforeseen death must have occurred due to a major disaster or emergency.
General funeral expenses covered by this government-funded program include:
- The cost of an urn or casket
- Transportation of the deceased and up to two family members to the body identification area
- Burial plot or cremation niche
- Interment or cremation
- Mortuary services
- A maximum of five death certificates
- Marker or headstone
- Cost of reinterment
4. The Angel Fund
The Angel Fund, provided by the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), assists with funeral expenses for patients who died from Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), acute respiratory distress syndrome, or Sepsis within the last six months.
You'll receive a $1,000 grant to cover cremation or burial expenses if approved.
5. Use A Title Loan Online
Finally, you can use a title loan online if you've exhausted other options. Provided you own a car, truck, or van, you can easily borrow up to $15,000 from us at Missouri Title Loans, Inc.
Just follow these steps:
- Complete our short form.
- Wait for one of our loan associates to give you a call. They'll discuss the process and set up a meeting location (you don't have to come to the store).
- Meet the representative with your state-issued ID, vehicle, and lien-free title.
- They'll examine your car and documents to decide whether you qualify.
- If you do qualify, complete the paperwork.
- Finally, receive the money you need on the same or the very next bank working day.
Get A Title Loan Online To Cover Missouri Funeral Expenses Now!
Use a title loan to cover funeral expenses when you have nowhere left to turn. Start by completing our online form, and you'll get the money in as little as 24 hours.
Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.