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I was blind-sighted by this discovery as my parents were both professional people and always on top of things like this. They even have long term health care. Now in assisted living and Mom's Alzheimer's is final stages she can not communicate and Dad confused also. Don't know if agencies, SS have provisions that offer. What do I do next?

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You mentioned in your profile that the money is going fast which is understandable. If money runs out, you would have to apply for medicaid. I don't know their financial situation, but you can pre-pay for a funeral out of the funds there are now. Medicaid allows this up to about $8,000. It goes into a trust until you need it. Take care.
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You mention that they were professional people; is there any possibility that there is a life insurance policy that was part of their professional association that you've overlooked? Some kind of automatic sign up thing, or a death benefit. Some unions/professional associations have this. Hugs and much love.
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I live in GA, my father has no life insurance either and wants to be cremated, about $900.
If you want or they have mentioned in the past that they want to be buried, you are allowed to keep out enough to bury them. It is a certain amount in each state. In this state, the money has to be spent (preplanned) and you must show the facility the receipt.
I'm not certain about every state, but SS will send you a check, small, about $250 to help w/ expenses. The funeral homes and crematorium's know exactly how much it is.
Additionally, when they pass, SS will ask that you return the last check they sent out. I never understood this part, because they always pay after, never before anything. I feel as if they are cheated out of their last bit of money.
There are other monies you are allowed to keep out. It may be best to check with the social worker or financial office at the facility where your parents are located. They are a good first source. They have been wonderful for me where my father is, as they know all the rules associated with the particular state in of which they reside.
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Selfishsiblings: You are correct. No state pays for a funeral unless the deceased was impoverished and is buried in a pauper's grave with a little ceremony at the gravesite. The state where I live is very respectful of the dead. Here in GA, no one goes to their grave without a prayful acknowledgement of their life.
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Found an article for you on funeraltrusts
Please keep in mind that there are state laws that will supersede some of what is written here.
I just went through the Medicaid filing process for my Dad now in a NH. Mom still alive. Had to liquidate their assets. Mom gets to keep his SS to pay her rent, (i.e. she is called the "community spouse"), and I purchase two Irrevocable Funeral Trusts, one for each, with as much money as I could in the spend down to Medicaid, to help pay for their funerals.
I hope this helpful to you!

-SS
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Yes, consulting an elder care attorney is also helpful. Check with a local office on aging to see if there are any free/pro-bono services or workshops on this topic. I agree with the previous poster about checking with the facility financial office & social worker. My parent's pre-paid funerals were also part of "spend down" to MD Medicaid which, thankfully, we never had to apply for prior to my father's death after 8 months in a NF, 6 of those on hospice care.
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If you are not having a regular viewed open casket service, there is a place called The Neptune Society. Every state has it, we pre-paid our Mom's cremation $2000. They come when the person passes and take care of remains and then get them back to you, then you can have a small service with family , friend's etc. celebrate there life!!
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My Grandparents pre paid for their funerals on a monthly plan when I was little.
They also pre paid for their burial plots. It was such a relief when they passed that my mom didn't have to come out of pocket for anything. They chose a irrevocable plan because that way medicare and medical can't count it as income.
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If parents have some assets, are headed for nursing home noe or later: In Georgia as an example; up to $10,000 (each) for a MEDICAID EXEMPT Funeral Trust covering both spouses, and even their children & Spouse, can be preplanned, {or purchased on a Crisis basis}, BEFORE the Medicaid app is completed The Average cost of a Funeral is about 10K.
The Funeral Trust does not have to be purchased from a funeral home, and therefore better when planning ahead becomes portable to ANY funeral home anywhere in the US In Wisconsin in 2012 the Funeral Director private investment trust came up $20 million short, as it was not through insurance , rather risky stock investments
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I think this is one thing my sister and I have done correctly, concerning our Mom. We took her to the local funeral home and worked with her to pre-plan her own memorial service by having her purchase a burial policy. She was more than happy to tell them everything she wants done for her final arrangements EXCEPT she refused to look at caskets. She told my Sister and I to select the casket, which we did. She didn't want to see it. The total service she pre-selected was $9,000 total and included everything except opening and closing of the burial site. That was $2100 and she has pre-paid that, with cash. The funeral home then let her pay out her memorial service ahead of time, on a monthly payment plan. The only 'glitch' was -- she had to pay 24 monthly payments (small monthly payments) BEFORE she passed. If she had died prior to the 24 months, the payments she made before death would have applied to the balance of the arrangements. So it was almost like it was something to live for -- to get past the 24 months! Now she is totally covered as it's been 29 months since she purchased the burial policy. The small 'premium' is deducted from her bank account on the first of the month and we are worry-free.
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