How to Pay for a Funeral With No Money: Government and Local Help

Short answer: To pay for a funeral with no money, cut the cost first, then claim every benefit that applies. The FTC Funeral Rule lets you compare itemized prices and buy only what you want, such as a simple cremation with an alternative container. Then check Social Security's $255 death payment (as of 2026), VA burial allowances for veterans, FEMA help after a declared disaster, and your city or county's burial assistance program. Family and friends can also help through a crowdfunding page.

Losing someone is hard enough without a bill you can't pay. You have rights that help you control the cost, and a few public programs can help pay. This guide covers both.

What Are Your Options When There's No Money for a Funeral?

Work through these steps before you sign anything:

1. Call more than one funeral home. Funeral homes must give you prices over the phone if you ask.
2. Ask for the General Price List. Compare the itemized prices for the same services at each home.
3. Choose only what you need. You don't have to buy a package.
4. Ask about simpler options. Ask about direct cremation, an alternative container for cremation and whether embalming is needed.
5. Apply for every benefit that may apply. Social Security, the VA, FEMA and local programs each have their own rules and deadlines.
6. Ask family and friends for help. A crowdfunding page is one way to collect contributions in one place.
7. Get a written statement before you pay. Check every line against what you agreed to.

How Can the FTC Funeral Rule Lower the Cost?

The Funeral Rule is a federal rule from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It gives you these rights when you deal with a funeral home:

Your right	Why it helps when money is tight
Get price information by phone	You can compare several homes quickly, without visiting
Receive a General Price List to keep	Itemized prices make it easy to spot what you can drop
Buy only the arrangements you want	You don't have to accept a package with extras
See casket prices before seeing the caskets	You can ask about lower-priced models up front
Use a casket or urn bought elsewhere	The funeral home can't refuse one you bought online or at another store
Use an alternative container for cremation	No state or local law requires a casket for cremation
Get a written statement of what you chose	You see every item, its price and the total before paying

The FTC also notes that no state law requires routine embalming for every death, and that options such as direct cremation don't require it. If the funeral home says a cemetery or crematory requires a certain purchase, the written statement has to describe that requirement.

What Government Help Is There for Funeral Costs?

Federal help for funerals is limited and tied to specific situations. Here is what each program offers:

Program	Who it can help	What it pays	Deadline
Social Security lump-sum death payment	An eligible surviving spouse, or some children if there's no spouse	$255, one time	Apply within 2 years of the death
VA burial allowance	Families and others who pay a veteran's burial costs, if VA eligibility rules are met	For a death on or after October 1, 2026 that isn't service connected: $1,032 burial allowance and $1,032 for a plot	Generally within 2 years of burial for non-service-connected deaths; no time limit for service-connected deaths
FEMA funeral assistance	Survivors with funeral costs from a death caused, directly or indirectly, by a presidentially declared disaster	Funeral and burial costs not covered by insurance or other help	Not listed in FEMA's guide; check with FEMA

Social Security. The $255 payment goes to a surviving spouse, or to certain children if there's no spouse. You can apply through your online Social Security account or by calling 1-800-772-1213. Our guide to whether Social Security pays for funerals explains who qualifies in more detail.

The VA. The burial allowance can be claimed by the person paying for the burial, including a spouse, child, parent, executor, friend or funeral home, as long as another organization isn't reimbursing them. VA says it automatically pays a set amount to eligible surviving spouses listed on the veteran's profile. Our VA life insurance guide covers the coverage veterans can have in place ahead of time.

FEMA. FEMA may help pay for funeral or burial costs when a death was caused by a presidentially declared disaster. Eligible costs can include funeral services, a burial plot, a casket or urn, a marker, and up to five death certificates. You need proof that the disaster caused the death, such as a death certificate or a signed statement from a medical examiner or coroner, plus receipts or estimates.

Do Counties or Cities Offer Burial Assistance for Low-Income Families?

Some do. These programs are run locally, so eligibility, amounts and deadlines depend on where the person lived. Denver's burial assistance program is one example:

• As of October 2026, Denver Human Services lists a burial benefit of up to $1,500 for qualifying Denver residents for a funeral, burial or cremation.
• The total cost of burial or cremation services can't exceed $2,500.
• Eligibility depends on the resources the person had at death, and a spouse's resources are also considered.
• You must apply within 30 days of the death. An extension may be given for good cause, up to one year from the date of death.
• It doesn't pay for services that were already paid in full.

Rules like these are a reason to ask about local help before you pay and to apply quickly. Contact the human services or social services office for the county or city where the person lived and ask whether it has a burial or cremation assistance program, what it pays, and how soon you must apply.

Can Family and Friends Help Through Crowdfunding?

Yes. The FTC describes crowdfunding as a way to raise money online, person-to-person, and names GoFundMe as one of the sites people use to set up campaigns. If you start a fundraiser for a funeral, keep these points from the FTC's guidance in mind:

• Check the fees and timing. Find out how much the platform keeps in fees and when it releases the money to the organizer.
• Know who controls the money. The FTC says money raised goes to the campaign organizer, who controls how it's spent. Say clearly who is organizing and what the money will pay for.
• Tell donors about taxes. The FTC says donations to individuals are not tax deductible, so donors shouldn't expect a deduction.
• Help people confirm it's real. The FTC tells donors to check who started a campaign and to contact a friend who shared it before giving, so make it easy for people to reach you.

What Should You Ask the Funeral Home?

Bring these questions to every funeral home you call:

• Can you send me your General Price List?
• What does direct cremation cost, and what's included?
• Do you offer an alternative container for cremation?
• Is embalming required for the arrangements I'm considering?
• Will you accept a casket or urn I buy somewhere else?
• Does the cemetery or crematory require anything specific, and is that in writing?
• Do you work with our county's burial assistance program?

The Bottom Line

When there's no money for a funeral, the choices you make with the funeral home are the part you control most, and the Funeral Rule gives you the right to compare itemized prices and buy only what you want. Government help is smaller and depends on the situation: $255 from Social Security for an eligible spouse or child, VA allowances for veterans, FEMA help after declared disasters, and local programs with their own rules. Apply early, keep your receipts, and get everything in writing. Once things settle, building a small cushion in a savings account can make the next unexpected cost easier to handle.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pay for a funeral with no money?

Start by keeping costs low: ask funeral homes for their General Price List and choose only the services you need. Then check every source of help that may apply, including Social Security's $255 lump-sum death payment, VA burial allowances for veterans, FEMA funeral assistance after a declared disaster, and your city or county's burial assistance program.

Is there burial assistance for low-income families?

Some local governments offer it. For example, as of October 2026, Denver Human Services lists for qualifying Denver residents a burial benefit of up to $1,500 when the total cost of burial or cremation services is no more than $2,500, and you must apply within 30 days of the death. Programs differ by location, so contact your county or city human services office.

Are there burial benefits for seniors?

Federal help is limited to specific programs. Social Security pays a one-time $255 lump-sum death payment to an eligible surviving spouse or child, and VA burial allowances are available to the families of eligible veterans. Other help, if any, depends on where the person lived.

Do you have to buy a casket for a cremation?

No. The FTC says no state or local law requires a casket for cremation, and funeral homes that offer cremations must tell you that alternative containers are available.

Can a funeral home refuse a casket I bought online?

No. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, a funeral provider can't refuse to handle a casket or urn you bought online or at another store.

Sources

1. FTC: The FTC Funeral Rule
2. Social Security Administration: Lump-Sum Death Payment
3. VA.gov: Veterans Burial Allowance and Transportation Benefits
4. FEMA: Help With Funerals and Burials (Quick Reference Guide)
5. FTC: Donating Through Crowdfunding and Fundraising Platforms

This guide is general information, not personal advice. Your situation may differ, so consider talking with a qualified professional, such as a fiduciary financial adviser, CPA or licensed agent, before making a decision.