Payment Options - Master Page
Ocean
Grove Memorial Home
118
Main Avenue, Ocean Grove, New Jersey 07756
Thomas
J. Saragusa, Co-Owner
N. J. License No. 4036
VOICE 732-775-0434
- - OGMHognj@aol.com
Ocean Grove Memorial Home (Fall 2001)
Payment at the Time of Death - Source of Funds
Certain payments must be made to or through fhe funeral home soon after a death has occurred. Some providers (e.g., most cemeteries) require payment in full before their services are made available. Most funeral homes require that a deposit be paid prior to the day of final disposition. The estate of the decedent is primarily responsible to pay for the decedent's funeral expenses. If the estate is not solvent, or estate funds are not accessible, the person responsible to provide for the final arrangements of the decedent or a person who volunteers to take that responsibility should be involved in the funeral arrangement process. See Who's Going to Pay for the Funeral?
If you are arranging a funeral now for someone who has just died, FIRST, ask the funeral director to see if the decedent has a prepaid funeral agreement on file. Ask if the decedent has a prepaid prearrangement. Look for a prepaid funeral arrangement contract among the decedent's important papers. If you have any evidence of a prepayment having been made, the funeral home can check with the New Jersey Prepaid Funeral Trust Fund to see if a prepayment exists with another funeral home. (You are not required to have another funeral home serve you, even if the prepayment was made through them. Prepaid funds can be transferred to any funeral home, either before or after a death.)
If there is no prearrangement, check for a will, checking account statements and savings account passbooks. The executor or administrator of the estate will ultimately control of these funds and should be consulted about the availability of immediate funds.If there is no will and no bank account, check for life insurance policies, either whole life or term and either individual or group, for example as through a pension plan. Determine who will benefit from these funds and if that person intends to pay for the funeral expenses. In the case of life insurance policies, the "Beneficiary of Record" as recorded in the files of the insurance company can assign insurance proceeds from the policy(s) to the funeral home. The insurance company will send any proceeds in excess of the actual cost of the funeral to that beneficiary, following payment of the funeral costs.
In the absence of immediately available funds (of the decedent) the arrangor or the person responsible for funeral costs may pay required expenses from his own funds and be reimbursed when the estate is settled. If anyone uses his own personal funds for valid funeral expenses, he becomes a creditor of the estate and may be reimbursed once the estate is liquidated.
A prepaid funeral account, the personal funds of the decedent or the personal funds of family or friends are the normal source for funeral payments. Although not a source of immediate funds, other sources may be available.
For Welfare Recipients
If the decedent was a recipient of a state welfare program, such as General Assistance or Work First New Jersey or Aid to Dependent Children, you will need to let the funeral director know.
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) may pay for the funeral of a deceased welfare recipient up to a maximum of $1,970 for the funeral and $460 for the burial or cremation. It also allows families, friends and other interested parties to supplement the state’s maximum welfare funeral and burial payments by up to $1,570, to a maximum combined payment of $4,000.00 without any reduction in the amount the DHS pays For funeral services costing more than $4,000.00, the DHS reduces it's contribution.
Any supplemental funds can not be a resource of the decedent, i.e., funds in the name of the decedent directly reduce the payment by the Division of Human Services. Additionally, recipients of Medicaid Only, Medically Needy, Alternative Family Care, Community Care Program for the Elderly and Disabled, the Community Alternative Program, the New Jersey Care Special Medicaid Program for Aged, Blind and Disabled and a few other state assistance programs are eligible for outside supplementation as well. In New Jersey, your funeral director can explain the details and put you in contact with your county Department of Human Services’ office.
Also see SSI/Medicaid.Survivors Benefits
Social Security
The spouse or minor children of deceased workers covered by Social Security may be entitled to Social Security Administration survivor benefits. The amount of the benefits depend on the decedent's length of employment and the age at the time of death. A widow or widower, unmarried children, disabled children, and dependent parents may be eligible.
In addition to ongoing monthly payments, a lump sum death payment of $255.00 may be paid to the surviving spouse for funeral expenses. Application can be made at any Social Security Office. The Ocean Grove Memorial Home will notify the Social Security Administration of the death and the name of the next of kin. The local office of the Social Security Administration will contact the spouse if funds are available but your contact to them will speed the process.Veterans Benefits
Eligibility for burial in a Veterans Affairs (VA) national/state cemetery is based on length of time in active military service, and the nature of the veteran's separation from the service. Burial is limited to specific categories of military personnel and veterans. Ask your funeral director for up-to-date information on flags, markers, military services and VA cemeteries. For further information call the Department of Veterans Affairs at 800-827-1000 or visit the various VA sites with links on our Related Sites Page.
See also PreArranging and PrePaying for a funeral
Links to SECONDARY PAGES in this Master Partition:
Links to our most frequently visited pages.
e-mail us at: OGMHognj@aol.com
Copyright 2001 and 2002-2007 - W¶W™ - William P. Walton, III - All Rights Reserved