No one wants to think about how their family and loved ones will handle their funeral when they pass away.
Although it may be painful to think about, it is important to consider how loved ones will be able to afford and coordinate final arrangements when we pass away.
With this in mind, more and more individuals are looking for ways to alleviate some of their loved one’s worries when they pass on, and one way to do this is to opt for a pre-paid funeral plan, like the ones offered by Age UK.
About Age UK
Age UK is the country’s largest charity organization dedicated to the needs of individuals 60 years of age and over. Age UK is comprised of over 170 local organizations throughout England including Age Cymru, Age International, Age NI, and Age Scotland.
This organization provides information and advisory services for those individuals in the older years of their lives as well as services provided through the network of organizations they work with such as Dignity, the United Kingdom’s largest funeral plan provider.
Funeral Plans Offered by Age UK
Like many other pre-paid funeral plan providers, Age UK offers three levels of plans ranging from basic coverage to more comprehensive coverage.
The plans offered by Age UK include:
- Ivy Funeral Plan (simple)
- Holly Funeral Plan (standard)
- Rowan Funeral Plan (premium)
The coverage offered by these plans will vary, but all plans will cover the costs incurred through the use of a funeral director. Additionally, although they will vary based on the plan chosen, these plans will also cover the arrangement of funeral services, use of a chapel of rest, transportation of the decreased, coffin, hearse, and limousine when needed.
Unlike some other funeral plans, the use of the chapel of rest is included with all of Age UK’s plans instead of just the higher level plans.
Unlike some other pre-paid funeral plans, Age UK also includes the cost of cremation and minister’s fees into all of its plans. Often, these fees need to be paid for using third party allowances, something many providers only make available for their mid-level or high-level plans.
Additionally, for those who prefer to have a burial, all the plans include a £1,150 to cover these costs – this allowance will increase over time to help keep pace with overall inflation.
Costs for Age UK Funeral Plans
When an individual purchases one of Age UK’s funeral plans, they will be paying for funeral costs at modern prices, helping to avoid the impact of inflation. The funds are held in the Trust for Age UK Funeral Plans, and independent trust that is manager by M&G Investment Management as part of the Prudential Group.
Age UK offers their clients three payment options:
- One-time, paid in full
- Paid in full over 12 months
- Fixed monthly payments for a period of up to 10 years
For those individuals who choose to pay for their funeral plan using the one-time, paid in full option, they can expect to pay the following amounts for each of the mentioned plans:
- Ivy Funeral Plan- £3,305
- Holly Funeral Plan – £3,615
- Rowan Funeral Plan – £3,980
Those who choose to divide their payment over 12 months will pay the same amount listed above but divided into 12 separate payments. Individuals who choose the fixed monthly payment plan will not have to make any type of deposit for their plan, but will incur an additional cost every month in administrative fees.
Those looking to purchase an Age UK Funeral Plan will need to be a minimum of 50 years of age but, unlike other providers, there is no upper age threshold for purchasing a plan.
Choosing an Age UK Funeral Plan
With the large number of funeral plan providers on the market, it is important for individuals to weigh all of their options before making a final decision. Although individuals should keep in mind the funeral plan they purchase through Age UK is actually provided by Dignity, there are a number of reasons why choosing an Age UK Funeral Plan is a great choice.
These benefits include:
- Inclusion of cremation and minister fees in all plans
- Transportation of the deceased within a 40 mile radius of the funeral director’s premises
- Funeral plans are provided by Dignity, the largest funeral plan provider in the United Kingdom
Individuals who would like more information on Age UK, the plans they offer or who would like to purchase a plan can contact the team at Divine Departures.