Arranging a Funeral

When arranging a funeral, be it a traditional one with a horse-drawn hearse, or a modern celebration of life, Country Funerals strives to tailor services to individual requirements.

Country Funerals Arranging a Funeral

From the first point of contact, our lady funeral directors personally arrange every aspect of a funeral – removing any stress and guiding clients with care and attention.

From the collection of a loved one, transferral to the chapel at our peaceful funeral home in the tranquil Kent village of Westwell and the direction of the funeral service, to assisting with requirements such as choosing a coffin, placing obituaries and arranging transport, Country Funerals ensures the best possible care at a difficult time.

Open 24 hours a day, Country Funerals provides a caring and comprehensive service with the personal warmth of an independent, female-led funeral home.

The following link provides information on registering a death in Kent (https://www.kent.gov.uk/births-ceremonies-and-deaths/deaths). For further assistance or advice contact Country Funerals.

Paying for a Funeral

Estate

If your loved one had enough funds in their estate including bank and building society accounts, their funeral expenses may be claimed from this when it has gone through the legal process of probate. Accounts will be frozen until they receive a letter of administration which will allow access to funds.

Insurance or pre-paid funeral plans

These are designed to be paid out after the death of your loved one. The insurer or funeral plan provider will only release the funds once they have seen the death certificate.

Country Funerals Paying for a Funeral

The Social Fund Funeral Payment

If you’re paying for the funeral and receiving means-tested benefits, the Social Fund could help you. The Social Fund is a welfare scheme set up by the government to give financial support to those needing to make one-off payments.

Funeral Expenses Payments

Your eligibility is dependent on the benefits you receive:

• Pension Credits
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credits
• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Working Tax Credits

To be eligible, you must also be the partner, the parent or guardian, a close family member or friend responsible for the payment of your loved one’s funeral, and any financial resources available to you, (this excludes personal savings)

Any funds still held by your loved one’s estate that could aid in the payment of the funeral will be considered as part of the means-testing process. These funds include funeral plans, insurance policies and your loved one’s bank and building society accounts.

Budgeting Loans

Budgeting Loans are small, interest-free loans that are repaid directly from your benefits. Your eligibility is dependent on whether you or your partner have been receiving one of the below benefits for the past 26 weeks:

• Pension Credits
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

You can apply online for a Budgeting Loan.

War Disablement Pension

If your loved one was receiving War Disablement Pension or died as a result of serving in HM Forces. Veterans UK will contribute to the cost of a simple funeral.

To check eligibility criteria, visit Veterans UK.

Bereavement Support Payment

This is available to those who have lost a spouse or civil partner. It is not available to those who have lost an unmarried or cohabiting partner. When your spouse or civil partner died you must have been under State Pension age.

Surviving spouses or civil partners who are pregnant or have dependent children will receive:

• A one-off lump sum of £3,500
• £350 a month for 18 months

Surviving spouses or civil partners who do not have dependent children will receive:

• A one-off lump sum of £2,500
• £100 a month for 18 months

Find out more about the Bereavement Support Payment

Country Funerals

A well-established and reputable independent funeral directors, Country Funerals offers a warm, professional and personal female-led funeral service.

With highly experienced female funeral directors, Country Funerals takes care of providing the best possible funeral service for your loved ones.

Pre-paid Funeral Plans

With Golden Leaves Funeral Planning, Country Funerals’ funeral directors will work with you to look ahead – leaving your funeral arrangement in the best possible hands.

Contact

Country Funerals, Westwell, Ashford, Kent,
TN25 4LE

Telephone: 01233 712222 or 07708 407229
Email: leah@country-funerals.co.uk

Open 24 hours