Pay monthly funeral plans
A funeral plan doesn't have to break the bank. A pay monthly funeral plan is simply a prepaid funeral plan where you spread the cost over monthly instalments; locking in today's prices without the need for a large upfront payment.
At Simplicity Cremations, our low-cost funeral plans are designed to be straightforward, affordable and dignified - making planning ahead accessible to more people.
Spread the cost with a pay monthly funeral plan
A pay monthly funeral plan gives you the option to spread the cost, allowing you to pay for your funeral in manageable instalments.
Following a funeral that hasn’t been paid for upfront, you'll typically have only 28 days to pay the bill.
Unfortunately, this can leave many families with no option but to take out a costly loan or pay off the balance with a credit card.
Paying for your funeral in advance allows you to lock-in the cost of your funeral at today’s rate, avoiding future price inflation.
Therefore, no matter how much prices rise, your family will be protected from the financial and emotional burden of arranging a funeral.
Simplicity makes funeral plans pay monthly straightforward: pay £79.12 per month for 24 months and your funeral is fully paid off at the end of the term.
As you can see in the table below the monthly cost and the term can vary by provider. As can what the funeral plan includes, so the lower headline price may not represent the best value.
| Provider | Monthly cost | Instalment term |
|---|---|---|
| Co-op | £133.42 | 12 months |
| Simplicity | £79.12 | 24 months |
| With Grace | £66.46 | 24 months |
| Celebration of Life | £74.25 | 24 months |
| Aura | £70.62 | 24 months |
| Distinct Cremation | £20.74 | 120 months |
| Pure Cremation | £29.99 | 120 months |
This is why the plan detail matters. A plan with a lower monthly cost might not include things like free gift card offers, out‑of‑hours collection, oversized coffin fees, or extra mileage.
Once these additional elements are factored in, the cheapest headline price may not offer the best value for money.
It’s easy to take out a pay monthly funeral plan with Simplicity Cremations.
1. Choose a funeral plan that is right for you
We offer one simple, comprehensive direct cremation funeral plan, designed to cover all the essentials and provide reassuring peace of mind.
- 24 hour collection of the deceased
- Specialist support from our funeral advisors
- 24/7 UK call centre
- Care in our local mortuary facilities
- Cremation fees covered
- A simple coffin & basic urn
- Transport in our specialised funeral vehicles
- Hand delivery of the ashes (mainland Great Britain) or scattering in our garden of remembrance
Always review what’s included as standard in the plan to make sure it meets your needs, then explore the different payment options available.
2. Choose to pay for your funeral in instalments or a single lump sum
Once you have chosen the funeral plan that is right for you, you can review the available payment options.
Our range of payment options allow you to pay in a way that suits you.
Spread the cost of your funeral over 24 monthly instalments
We understand that for many, a single lump sum payment isn't a feasible option, which is why we also offer a pay monthly funeral plan option.
At Simplicity, you can spread the cost of a funeral by paying £79.12 a month over 24 months.
Pay for your funeral in a lump sum
Although obviously not a monthly funeral plan, this option is worth considering as it allows you to pay for your funeral in advance via a single payment.
A single upfront payment covers all your funeral costs in one go and for most providers, it's the cheapest way to pay, as instalment fees are avoided.
Our direct cremation funeral plan is £1,799 and includes the cost of cremation, provision of a simple coffin and urn, care at one of our mortuaries and hand delivery of the ashes.
3. Apply for a monthly funeral plan with Simplicity
As long as you're aged 18 or over, you’re guaranteed to be accepted for a Simplicity Cremations funeral plan.
Once you've decided which funeral plan and payment option meets your needs, you can apply online in a few simple steps, request a brochure or call us to discuss further.
If you'd like to know more about buying a funeral plan online, including what to look for and how the process works, take a look at our dedicated buy a funeral plan online guide.
Our team are ready to answer any questions you may have, and guide you through the simple process of taking out a funeral plan with Simplicity.
Funeral plans pay monthly FAQs:
Is a pay monthly funeral plan right for everyone?
A pay monthly funeral plan is a great option for those who want to plan ahead but don't have the funds available for a single upfront payment. Spreading the cost over monthly instalments makes a funeral plan accessible to a wider range of budgets.
However, a pay monthly plan isn't necessarily the most cost-effective option for everyone. If you're in a position to pay upfront in a single lump sum, this will almost always work out cheaper, as instalment fees are avoided.
In short, if a lump sum payment is within your means, it's generally the stronger option. If it isn't, a pay monthly funeral plan is an excellent and affordable alternative that still allows you to lock in today's prices and protect your family from future cost increases.
What happens if I miss a payment?
If you miss a monthly instalment, your provider will typically contact you to make you aware. However, if consecutive payments are missed, most providers reserve the right to cancel your plan.
For example, at Simplicity Cremations, we'll contact you if a payment is missed. However, we reserve the right to cancel your plan if you miss the equivalent of two or more consecutive payments.
If a plan is cancelled due to missed payments, any money paid in will be refunded, minus any applicable cancellation fee, provided you're outside the 30-day cooling-off period.
If you're struggling to keep up with your monthly payments, the best course of action is to contact your provider as soon as possible.
Most credible providers would rather work with you to find a solution than cancel your plan - so don't wait until payments have already been missed before reaching out.
Can I cancel a pay monthly funeral plan?
Yes, you can cancel a pay monthly funeral plan at any time and don't need to provide a reason.
If you cancel within the 30-day cooling-off period you'll receive a full refund with no cancellation fee. After this period, a cancellation fee will usually apply and any refund issued will be the total amount paid minus this fee.
To cancel your plan, you'll typically need to notify your provider by telephone or email, quoting your key plan details including your:
- Plan number
- Full name and address
- Date of birth
Your provider may also ask a few additional security questions before processing the cancellation. At Simplicity, once your cancellation notice has been received, your refund should be processed within 30 days.
If you're considering cancelling due to financial difficulty, it may be worth speaking to your provider first as there may be options available to pause or adjust your payments rather than cancelling altogether.
Are pay monthly funeral plans FCA regulated?
Yes, all prepaid funeral plans in the UK, including pay monthly options, have been regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) since July 2022. This means all providers must be transparent about costs, treat customers fairly and safeguard all money paid into plans.
Customers also benefit from protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). In the unlikely event a provider goes out of business, the FSCS may step in by either arranging a like-for-like replacement plan or providing financial compensation.
Together, FCA regulation and FSCS protection provide two meaningful layers of consumer protection, giving you peace of mind that your money and arrangements are secure, however you choose to pay.
Pay monthly funeral plan vs over 50s life insurance?
Both products can help cover the cost of a funeral, however they work very differently.
A pay monthly funeral plan locks in today's funeral prices over a fixed payment term - at Simplicity, just 24 months - after which no further payments are required and your arrangements are guaranteed.
An over 50s life insurance policy pays out a cash lump sum on death that can be used for anything. However, there are important considerations:
- Premiums must be paid monthly until you pass away or reach a specified age and there's no fixed end date
- It's possible to pay more in premiums over time than the policy ever pays out
- Unlike a funeral plan, the real-terms value of the payout is subject to inflation; meaning its purchasing power could be significantly lower by the time it's needed
For those whose primary goal is covering funeral costs, a pay monthly funeral plan offers greater certainty and inflation protection. For a full comparison of both products, see our funeral plan or life insurance guide.
Sources:
https://www.coop.co.uk/funeralcare/ funeral-services/direct-cremation
https://www.col.co.uk/funeral-plan
https://funeralswithgrace.com/ monthly-funeral-plans
https://aura.life/funerals/funeral-plan
https://www.distinctcremations.co.uk/ direct-cremation
https://www.purecremation.co.uk/ funeral-plans
