Who Can Help Pay for a Funeral in Vermont

Funeral expenses can be a significant financial challenge, but Vermont offers resources to assist families with these costs. This guide covers state, federal, and local assistance programs, nonprofit resources, veterans’ benefits, religious and cultural organizations, and crowdfunding options.

In This Article

Government Funeral Funding Programs

Here are funeral cost assistance programs at the federal, state, and county levels.

Vermont State Programs

Vermont provides state-level programs to assist families with funeral expenses:

Vermont General Assistance Burial Program: Administered through the Department for Children and Families (DCF), this program offers financial aid for burial or cremation expenses for low-income individuals. Families may be eligible for up to $1,100 in assistance. Visit Vermont DCF for more information.
County Burial Assistance Programs: Some counties in Vermont provide burial or cremation assistance for unclaimed or indigent residents. Contact your local county office or visit How to help funeral expenses help at the county level for more information.

Federal Assistance Programs

Federal programs that assist Vermont residents include:

Social Security Death Benefit: Provides a one-time $255 payment to eligible survivors of deceased Social Security beneficiaries. Visit Social Security Administration for details.
Veterans Affairs (VA) Burial Benefits: Eligible veterans and their families may qualify for burial allowances, cemetery plot coverage, and funeral expense reimbursement. Learn more at VA Burial Benefits.

Veterans Funeral Assistance

Veterans and their families have access to specialized funeral benefits. These include:

VA Burial Benefits: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides allowances for burial costs, interment in a national cemetery, and headstone or marker coverage. Visit VA Burial Benefits for details.
Additional Support for Veterans: For a comprehensive guide to veteran-specific funeral programs, see Help to Pay for U.S. Veterans’ Funerals.

Local and County Assistance Programs

Several Vermont counties provide support for funeral expenses. Examples include:

Chittenden County Burial Assistance: Offers financial support for burial or cremation expenses for low-income families or unclaimed remains. Visit Chittenden County Services.
Washington County Funeral Assistance: Provides limited financial aid to families in financial distress. Learn more at Washington County Resources.
Rutland County Indigent Burial Program: Covers basic burial or cremation costs for qualifying individuals. Visit Rutland County Services.

Learn more: How to help funeral expenses help at the county level.

Nonprofit Funeral Assistance Programs

Several nonprofit organizations in Vermont provide support for funeral expenses:

Catholic Charities of Vermont: Offers emergency financial assistance for funeral costs to low-income families. Visit Catholic Charities Vermont.
Salvation Army Northern New England Division: Provides emergency financial aid for funeral-related expenses. Visit Salvation Army Vermont.
United Way of Vermont: Connects families with local resources for funeral assistance. Dial 2-1-1 or visit United Way Vermont.

Religious and Cultural Organizations

Religious and cultural organizations in Vermont often provide funeral support. Examples include:

Diocese of Burlington: Catholic parishes may offer financial assistance for funeral expenses. Visit Diocese of Burlington.
Jewish Communities of Vermont: Offers support for Jewish families in need of funeral assistance. Learn more at Jewish Communities VT.
Search for a Local Church: Catholic, Protestant: Use online directories to find nearby churches offering assistance. Visit Catholic Directory or The Gospel Coalition.

Crowdfunding Options

Crowdfunding platforms allow families to raise funds for funeral expenses through their community. Popular options include:

GoFundMe: Create a funeral fundraiser and share it with friends and family. Visit GoFundMe.
FundRazr: Another effective platform for personal fundraising campaigns. Visit FundRazr.

Comparison Table: Funeral Assistance in Vermont

Resource	Type of Assistance	Eligibility	How to Apply
Vermont General Assistance Burial Program	Up to $1,100 for burial or cremation costs	Low-income families	Visit Vermont DCF
County Burial Assistance Programs	Burial or cremation cost support	County-determined	Visit How to help funeral expenses help at the county level
Social Security Death Benefit	One-time $255 payment	Eligible survivors	Visit SSA
VA Burial Benefits	Funeral and burial cost coverage	Veterans and their families	Visit VA Burial Benefits
Catholic Charities of Vermont	Financial aid for funeral costs	Low-income families	Visit Catholic Charities Vermont
Salvation Army Northern New England Division	Emergency funeral cost assistance	Families in crisis	Visit Salvation Army Vermont
United Way of Vermont	Connects families with resources	Open to all	Visit United Way Vermont
Chittenden County Burial Assistance	Funeral expense support	Indigent residents	Visit Chittenden County Services
Washington County Funeral Assistance	Burial or cremation cost support	Low-income families	Visit Washington County Resources
Rutland County Indigent Burial Program	Funeral assistance for indigent cases	County-determined	Visit Rutland County Services
Diocese of Burlington	Emergency aid for funeral costs	Members of Catholic parishes	Visit Diocese of Burlington
Jewish Communities of Vermont	Funeral cost support	Jewish families in need	Visit Jewish Communities VT
Catholic Directory	Locate nearby Catholic churches	Open to all	Visit Catholic Directory
The Gospel Coalition	Locate nearby Protestant churches	Open to all	Visit The Gospel Coalition
GoFundMe	Crowdfunding for funeral expenses	Open to all	Visit GoFundMe
FundRazr	Crowdfunding for funeral expenses	Open to all	Visit FundRazr