Pre-paid funeral plans are one of the most popular options in the UK when it comes to paying for funerals. In 2023, pre-paid funeral plans accounted for 37% of financial provisions made by the deceased to pay for their funeral1.
But are funeral plans worth it? This article breaks down why prepaying for your funeral could be the right choice for you.
Beat potential rising funeral costs
A pre-paid funeral plan allows you to pay the cost of the funeral director’s services included in your plan at today’s prices2. It also helps avoid the UK’s potential rising cost of funerals which is now, on average, 126% higher than in 2004.1
A range of ways to pay
The loss of a loved one can be difficult, and planning a funeral can be particularly stressful while coping with bereavement. Pre-paid funeral plans can help to reduce the stress of organising a funeral during this difficult period.
We offer flexible payment options and a range of funeral plans:
- Basic: A dignified, unattended cremation without a funeral service
- Value: A simple funeral at an affordable price
- Standard: A funeral with more than just the essentials
- Select: A funeral with additional features
- Premier: A our most comprehensive funeral option
Our funeral plans can be paid for via three different payment methods. The first is a single one-off payment. Costs can also be spread across 12 months at no extra charge or, depending on your age and the type of plan you choose, you can pay in monthly instalments up to 15 years.3
It's your funeral
According to SunLife, 19% of people didn’t know any of their loved ones’ funeral wishes in 2023.1 A funeral plan is a great way to set these out.
A pre-paid funeral plan lets you set out all of your wishes, in your own time. When the time comes, your loved ones just need to make a phone call to your chosen funeral director to activate the plan.
Keeping it local
We work with over 2,900 funeral directors4, making us one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers.5
1Funeral Costs - Cost Of Dying Report 2024 | SunLife
2While the cost of the funeral director’s services are included in your plan, this does not cover third party costs. All our plans include an allowance towards third party costs.
3If you choose to pay by the instalment payment option you must be aged under 78 at the start date of your plan and pay the total cost by your 80th birthday.
4Based on number of funeral director branches in the UK accepting Golden Charter plans as at March 2023.
5Based on a Golden Charter analysis and independent research of the funeral plan market size as at January 2023.
