When a death occurs, the survivors not only have to deal with their grief but the financial aspects of funeral, cemetery and cremation services. Many of us are not prepared for the loss of a loved one and may not have the financial means to pay for some, if not all of the associated costs. What many of us do not know is that there may be other outlets for you to receive funding to cover the cost of funeral, cemetery and cremation expenses. We have put together a list of financial assistance programs that can help ease a survivor’s financial burden in the event of a loved one’s death, should the deceased meet the appropriate eligibility requirements.

Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Individuals receiving assistance through the Ontario Works program or through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) may be deemed eligible for funeral, burial or cremation benefits. The person responsible for making funeral arrangements may apply for these benefits on behalf of the deceased. The type of services covered and the amount of financial assistance available will vary between municipalities. But in general the following may be covered:

• Funeral Services: Transfer of the deceased for cremation or burial or for traditional funeral services
• Burial Services: Burial plot, and opening/closing fees for the plot
• Cremation Services: Cremation, scattering or burial of cremated remains

For more information contact your local Ontario Works  or Ontario Disability Support program provider.

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario
As a spouse or dependent of a person who has died as the result of a workplace related injury or disease there are WSIS benefits that may be available to you. As these benefits relate to funeral, cremation and cemetery services WSIB may cover:

• Funeral and Transportation Costs: Expenses reasonably connected to the burial or cremation of the deceased worker along with any repatriation costs back to their community if the worker was working out of town
• Bereavement Counselling: Surviving spouses and children can request supportive counselling from an experienced professional within the first year of the worker’s death

For more information please visit: http://www.wsib.on.ca/WSIBPortal/faces/WSIBDetailPage?cGUID=WSIB018859&rDef=WSIB_RD_ARTICLE&_afrLoop=402264246668000&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null#%40%3FcGUID%3DWSIB018859%26_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D402264246668000%26rDef%3DWSIB_RD_ARTICLE%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Dx62z93kbp_46

Last Post Fund
Veteran Affairs Canada has a Funeral and Burial Program which is administered by the Last Post Fund. This program ensures eligible veterans receive dignified funeral and burial services. A veteran must meet certain financial and military service criteria in order to be deemed eligible for funding. The Last Post Fund may cover:
Medical costs associated with the Veteran’s last illness that weren’t paid for by the Minister or were not insured under a provincial or private health care plan
Funeral service costs including transportation and preparation of the remains, provision of a casket and or urn, ceremonial services, and death notices
Cemetery and Crematorium service costs including cremation, the provision of a grave, the opening/closing of a grave, grave liner and a military upright or flat Stanstead grey granite memorial or in some cases a flat bronze memorial that conform to Veteran Affairs standards

Please see our blog post “What You Should Know About Veteran Funeral and Burial Benefits” for more in depth information or visit http://www.lastpostfund.ca/EN/index.php

Victims of Crime
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB) For Victims of Crime in Ontario provides financial assistance to cover the cost of various funeral and burial expenses to victims of violent crimes. The following funeral and burial expenses may be covered by the CICB:

• Funeral and burial expenses such as the c
• Cost of a funeral director, clergyman, casket, cemetery plot, grave marker, cremation, newspaper notices and death certificates (there is no maximum amount specific to funeral expenses that can be awarded, however the overall maximum amounts of assistance still apply)
• Bereavement counseling for family members

For more information please visit: http://www.ovc.gov.on.ca/ .

Company/Union
Individuals who are currently employed or union members may be eligible for funeral, cemetery and cremation benefits through their workplace or union. These benefits may extend past their retirement and these benefits may also extend to dependents. Contact your company or union for more information.

Airline Bereavement Fares
Air Canada and West Jet offer reduced bereavement airline fares to individuals who need to fly last minute in the event of a death or imminent death in their immediate family

For more information please visit the following: http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/bereavement.html
http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/travel/basics/fares/our-fares.shtml

The Unforgettables Fund
The Unforgettables Fund provides financial assistance to families with limited resources to help offset the cost of funeral, burial and cremation services for children who have passed away under the care of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario or the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre. This Fund aims to help families often categorized as the “working poor”, while one or both family members may work, the overwhelming burden of caring for a child with a life-limiting illness has affected their ability to earn an income, and has left them financially crippled. This fund is typically used by families who would not qualify for traditional forms of social assistance. An application can be made to the Unforgettables Fund administrator on behalf of the family through a clinical staff member of these hospitals. Eligibility criteria include the family’s financial capacity, the overall cost of the funeral and utilization of other forms of support. The Fund will cover expenses up to $2,000 per family.

For more information please go to: http://theunforgettablesfund.com/