Funeral Arrangement
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This page is dated June 2003
Ministry of Human Resources
10.19 SUPPLEMENTS Burial or Cremation
Legal Authority
Employment and Assistance (EA) Regulation Section 65
Trespect the right of the legal representative of the deceased tchoose the funeral arrangements. Tpay necessary funeral services costs. Trecover costs whenever possible.
Funeral Services
For the purposes of this section of policy, the term “funeral services” refers tall services related tburial, cremation and other funerary practices.
Regional Contracts
Except as noted, policy provisions apply in all regions.
Eligibility Criteria
Funeral services costs may be paid for persons whdie in BC if there are nother immediate sources of funds or assets available tmeet those costs.
Funeral services costs may be paid for a body transported tBC if it is of a recipient whwas temporarily out of the province, and if the body is transported back tBC at ncost tthe ministry.
The ministry does not pay for any funeral services costs outside of BC.
Prior approval for payment must be obtained from the Employment and Assistance Worker (EAW).
Funeral Provider’s Service Fee
Where eligibility for service has been established, whether burial or cremation is chosen, the ministry will pay a flat rate Funeral Provider’s service fee of $690 for a person under age 12, or $917 for a person aged 12 or older. The fee covers the cost of:
transportation of the body within 32 km;
completion and filing of documents: obtaining Medical Certificate of Death, completing and filing Registration of Death, obtaining burial/cremation permit;
professional and staff services: supervision and c-ordination of all service arrangement details that include counselling and c-ordination of requested services with legal representatives of the deceased and/or clergy/officiant, attendance of staff for services/visitation, cemetery/crematorium;
preparation of the deceased: sanitary care and/or embalming, dressing, hairdressing and casketing;
facilities and equipment: use of funeral home and all necessary facilities including arrangement office, reception areas and visitation rooms. Use of funeral chapel, preparation room, refrigeration room, parking and service areas, taped music; and
funeral coach for transfer of the casket tcemetery/crematorium.
Note: Region 1 has a funeral services contract. The contract service fees negotiated with the Region 1 funeral services provider shall apply in that region for the term of the contract.
Where eligibility for service has been established, whether burial or cremation is chosen, the ministry will pay for transportation of the body within BC:
the first 32 km are included in the Funeral Provider’s service fee;
$1.00 per km for kms 33 t82;
$.90 per km for kms 83 t182; and
$.60 per km for each km above 182.
Where eligibility for service has been established, whether burial or cremation is chosen, the ministry will pay for:
an Imperial #2 HP cloth-covered casket (or equivalent) at actual invoiced factory cost, plus a merchandising mark-up of up t20 percent, plus the cost of freight tthe funeral home; and
additional cost of casket for oversized remains.
A lower cost casket will be used when requested by the legal representative.
Note: Region 1 has a funeral services contract. The contract casket fees negotiated with the Region 1 funeral services provider shall apply in that region for the term of the contract.
Where eligibility for service has been established and burial is chosen, the ministry will pay the following in addition tthe Funeral Provider’s service fee:
where cemeteries offer different price ranges, the lowest-priced burial plot is tbe used;
grave opening and closing fees; and
where required by the cemetery, the cost of a concrete grave liner, and/or a hermetically sealed rigid container, and/or a plastic body pouch, and/or an outer grave box or liner.
Burial outside the local area, but within BC, may be authorized when the total costs, (transportation, cemetery fees, cremation fees) are comparable tthe total costs for local burial.
Where eligibility for service has been established and cremation is chosen, the ministry will pay the following in addition tthe Funeral Provider’s service fee:
cremation fees;
an urn at a cost of up t$200;
cost of a cremation plot:
where cemeteries offer different price ranges, the lowest-priced cremation plot is tbe used;
grave opening and closing fees; and
where required by the cemetery, the cost of a concrete grave liner.
Burial of the cremated remains outside the local area, but within BC, may be authorized when the total costs (transportation and cemetery fees) are comparable tthe total local costs.
The ministry will pay only for the items and services listed above. Due tcultural/religious practices and/or personal beliefs, a family member or other individual may wish tpurchase additional items or services.
Family members or other individuals may purchase the following additional items or services up ta total value of $250 without affecting eligibility for assistance with funeral services costs:
casket upgrade;
flowers;
honorariums for clergy and/or musicians;
death certificates;
memorial books and stationery;
obituary notice; and
other items or services required due tcultural, religious or personal beliefs.
1. Funeral Arrangements
a) Section 51 of the Cemetery and Funeral Services Act requires that funeral arrangements be made by the legal representative of the deceased:
the legal representative will choose the funeral home;
the legal representative will choose cremation or burial; and
the legal representative will choose a graveside, memorial or funeral service.
b) Where the EAW is the legal representative, a graveside service and burial will be arranged.
c) The arrangements chosen by the legal representative are tbe approved, provided they are within policy and the cost limits are not exceeded.
Note: Region 1 has a funeral services contract. The contracted service provider will provide funeral services in Region 1 for the term of the contract.
2. Cremated Remains
The cremated remains may only be returned tthe legal representative of the deceased.
3. Burial outside the Local Area
When the deceased is buried outside the local area and twfuneral directors provide services, the fees will be divided between the twdirectors:
60 percent of the Funeral Provider’s service fee will be allotted for preparation of the body, certification of death and casketing in the area where the death occurred;
the remaining 40 percent of the Funeral Provider’s service fee will be paid tthe funeral director in the burial area; and
the cost of the casket will be paid tthe funeral director in the area where the death occurred.
4. Burial on a First Nations Reserve
a) Where eligibility for service has been established, if the person was residing off a First Nations reserve at the time of death and burial is ttake place on a reserve within BC, the ministry will pay:
60 percent of the Funeral Provider’s service fee ta local funeral director for preparation of the body and certification of death;
the cost of the casket tthe local funeral director; and
transportation of the body tthe reserve.
b) The balance of the funeral services costs will be the responsibility of the agency that issues assistance on the reserve.
5. Billing/Payment
a) The service provider (funeral home, cemetery, crematorium) completes the Funeral Services Billing Form (MHR2817) and submits it tthe EAW whauthorized service.
b) The EAW reviews the MHR2817 for accuracy, authorizes payment by completing the coding block, and forwards the MHR2817 tFinancial Service Branch (FSB) Vancouver. A photocopy must be placed on the Employment and Assistance file. Where there is nfile, the photocopy is tbe placed in the district office burials (ARCs) file.
c) FSB Vancouver issues payment tthe service provider.
6. Alternative Funding Sources
Last Post Fund (LPF) Burial Arrangements
The LPF operates in cooperation with, and is financially supported by, Veterans Affairs Canada and provides funeral and burial services for war veterans or civilians whmeet wartime service eligibility criteria. Deceased veterans may be entitled tburial arrangements through the LPF.
Where funding may be available through the LPF, the legal representative of the deceased may contact:
Last Post Fund, BC Branch
Suite 307
7337 137th St
Surrey BC V3W 1A4
Telephone: (604) 572-3242
Facsimile: (604) 572-3306
Toll Free: 1-800-268-0248
7. Cost Recovery
a) It is essential that cost recovery is initiated by the EAW whenever possible.
b) The Employment and Assistance cheque for the month of death is the property of the estate. Any subsequent cheques are tbe reclaimed from the estate.
c)The EAW will request reimbursement of all funeral services costs paid by the Ministry of Human Resources from the legal representative of the deceased. Tassist the legal representative in locating and accessing the financial assets of the deceased, provide the legal representative with the information necessary tdischarge their responsibilities. For example:
name and address of next of kin;
statement of income and assets; and
location of any safety deposit boxes.
d) If funeral services costs are paid for a person whmay be eligible for the CPP Death Benefit, direct a claim for the benefit tthe nearest CPP office using HRDC’s ISP 1200 Form.
e) Under ncircumstances may the amount recovered from any sources exceed the amount of the funeral services costs paid by MHR.
Source: British Columbia Ministry of Human Resources
We will help guide you through all the questions and concerns you may have during the funeral process. Our goal is to make this as easy as possible for your family.
Contact Us Now