Yes, but your funeral director needs to agree to the changes. Please remember if you do change your original agreement, there may be additional costs.
When a beneficiary passes away, please contact your chosen funeral director who will organise the funeral arrangements. Once the funeral service has taken place, Australian Funeral Plan will pay out all funds held to the funeral director, to cover the costs of the funeral service, so there isn’t anything for the family to pay.
You can invest as much as you like into a pre-paid funeral plan and the amount you contribute is dependent on the type of service you would like and which funeral director you choose. You can customise your funeral service to be how you like it.
Funerals can be simple or extravagant, and there are a number of items that make up the cost of a funeral service. These include the location of the service, the type of coffin or casket, and any religious requirements.
If your chosen funeral director ceases to operate, another funeral director that works with Australian Funeral Plan may be able to take over the obligations in your funeral contract at no additional cost to you.
Alternatively, if there is no other funeral director available who can provide the funeral services described in the contract, Australian Funeral Plan may release any funds held to the estate of the deceased.
A pre-paid funeral plan is a legally binding contract so you need to make sure you understand the terms of agreement before you sign.
There is a ‘cooling off’ period and during this time you can cancel your contract and get a full refund. Please read the Terms and Conditions of our prepaid contracts carefully before you choose to go ahead. Ask your Funeral Director or Australian Funeral Plan if you have any questions.
If you have moved or are planning on moving away from your current area, please reach out to Australian Funeral Plan. We work with a wide network of funeral directors and may be able to transfer your policy to another funeral director at your new location without incurring any additional fees.
Without a valid Will, usually the next of kin will have the right to apply to act as administrator of the estate and complete the funeral arrangements on your behalf.
If you are looking for a easy way to get your Will organised, please reach out to our partner Safewill – https://safewill.com/
For those who enjoy travelling or may be away from home for periods of time, the Travel Protection Plan means that transportation costs are covered if death occurs more than 80kms away from the funeral home chosen up to a $5,000.00 cap.
This should cover most transportation options if you are holidaying within Australia or pass away unexpectedly while away from home.
A pre-paid funeral is a funeral contract purchased in advance. The type and style of funeral you want is documented in a written contract and paid for at today’s prices. Subject to any specific terms of a pre-paid funeral contract (e.g. if Government taxes are subsequently imposed or increased), you won’t have to pay any additional amount for that contracted funeral regardless of when the funeral is required.
A funeral bond is a specialised investment which enables you to accumulate funds to meet future funeral expenses. An investment in a funeral bond is similar to a life insurance policy, whereby the benefit becomes payable on death. The benefits must be used to meet your funeral expenses. A funeral bond is an investment towards the cost of a funeral and by itself does not guarantee against rising funeral prices*.
Funeral insurance is not provided by Australian Funeral Plan.
What is it?
Funeral insurance involves making a regular set weekly, fortnightly or monthly premium payment which is determined by the policy cover chosen.
The policy benefit is then generally paid in a lump sum to your beneficiary in the event of your death to provide a payment in respect of funeral costs.
What to be aware of:
- You may end up paying more in funeral insurance premiums than the actual value of your cover
- Failure to miss one premium payment can result in the insurance being cancelled and monies paid all forfeited
- In most instances you are unable to specify your preferred funeral director or funeral type.
Carefully read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement to ensure you understand all of the features, what will happen if you cancel your policy and how much you really will be paying.
Moneys held by Australian Funeral Plan are invested in low risk assets such as term deposits and blue chip shares. This helps to ensure that the invested money can keep pace with inflation and cover the funeral directors costs of providing the service at your time of need.
More and more people are choosing to be cremated, with cremations now outnumbering burials*. Regardless of what others may choose, you need to feel comfortable with your decision. A funeral director can help guide you in making this choice.
*Source: Australian Funeral Directors Association.
A pre-paid funeral is arranged through a funeral director. We can help you find a suitable funeral director in your local area, please contact us on free call 1800 040 787, or complete our online enquiry form below for a list of funeral directors in your local area.
You and your funeral director should both have a copy of your contract, which details your arrangements at a fixed price. It is important you tell your family and friends you have made these arrangements in advance. Contact us for a free planning guide to help get your wishes down on paper.
When you write a Will, you must choose an Executor who is then legally responsible to carry out your wishes. You should make sure he/she is familiar with your choices and is also aware of the details of your pre-paid funeral plan contract or funeral bond.