Funeral Benefit Option
Did you know that the average cost of a funeral is £2,733?*
Add to this average cost the personal touches, such as flowers and memorials, and the cost of a funeral soon adds up.
Help with funeral expenses
We know that many of our customers are concerned about leaving loved ones with their funeral costs.
So wouldn't it be good if a sum of money could be used to pay directly towards your funeral, easing the financial burden on your loved ones at a difficult time?
With our new Funeral Benefit Option you can use your Guaranteed Over 50 Plan to do just that, at no extra cost.
By choosing the Funeral Benefit Option, you can help towards these expenses by arranging for the cash sum from your plan to be paid directly to Dignity plc, who will then use it towards the cost of providing your funeral. This simple legal process is known as 'charging' your plan and it won't cost you a penny extra.
£250 Contribution towards your funeral costs
Dignity will also provide a £250 Contribution towards your funeral costs, in addition to your cash sum, when the time comes.
How the Funeral Benefit Option works
The cash sum you leave will be deducted from the final cost of your funeral, along with the extra £250 Contribution from Dignity.
- If the cost of the funeral is less than your cash sum and the £250 Contribution combined, the balance will be paid to your estate.
- If the cost of the funeral is more than your cash sum and the £250 Contribution combined, your loved ones would need to pay the difference to the Funeral Director.
- As the £250 Contribution is fixed, and paid at the time of the funeral, inflation will reduce its value over time.
Simple to put in place
To take advantage of the Funeral Benefit Option please read the Terms and Conditions including the Policy Summary Term & Conditions for further information. If you're happy that this feature meets your needs simply complete the relevant section in your application form when you apply online and we'll do the rest.
If you decide not to take the Funeral Benefit Option, you just keep paying your premiums and your plan will pay the cash sum on your death to your estate.
If you change your mind
You can remove the Funeral Benefit Option at any time, or should your representatives choose to use another funeral provider or want the cash sum paid to your estate, they can remove the Option when you die. Further details can be found in the Terms and Conditions
Only one life cover plan such as this can be 'charged' to a Funeral Director. So you can only use the Funeral Benefit Option if you haven't already 'charged' another life cover plan.
About Dignity plc
With over 550 funeral homes nationwide, Dignity conducts about 70,000 funerals across the country each year and is one of the UK’s largest funeral services providers.** With the Funeral Benefit Option, no specific services are agreed upfront and all arrangements are made by your loved ones when the time comes. You can make any specific requests using the Special Requests Form that will be sent to you by Dignity – for example your wish to be cremated or buried, your favourite hymn or reading etc. Recording your wishes doesn’t mean you are securing any specific services. However, by simply making your wishes known, you could make things easier for your loved ones at a very difficult time. And they will also benefit from the support provided by the experts at Dignity – who will work with your loved ones to make the arrangements when the time comes.
* Source: Average of quotes provided by a sample of funeral directors across the UK for standard funeral arrangements. Mintel Research Consultancy, Average Funeral Pricing August 2009. This report has been commissioned by, and produced exclusively for, AXA Sun Life.
**Dignity plc Annual Report & Accounts 2008.