Funerals can be expensive, with the average cost ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the services chosen. For many families, covering these costs can be overwhelming. Fortunately, several resources and programs across Canada provide financial assistance to help ease the burden.
In this guide, we’ll cover government programs, municipal assistance, charitable organizations, and other resources that can help pay for a funeral in Canada.
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit provides a one-time, lump-sum payment of up to $2,500 to the estate of a deceased CPP contributor. This benefit is intended to help offset funeral costs.
- Eligibility: The deceased must have made sufficient contributions to the CPP. The applicant is usually the executor of the estate.
- How to apply: Apply through Service Canada online or by mail.
- Link: CPP Death Benefit Application
Provincial and Territorial Assistance Programs
Each province and territory in Canada offers its own program to assist low-income families with funeral expenses. These programs often have specific eligibility criteria, such as income level and assets, and they typically cover essential funeral services. Below is a table of funeral assistance programs available across Canada:
Provincial and Territorial Assistance Programs
| Province/Territory | Program Name | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Alberta Supports Funeral Assistance | Provides financial help for basic funeral services for low-income families. | Alberta Supports |
| British Columbia | BC Employment & Assistance Hardship Program | Offers funeral support for low-income residents through hardship assistance. | BC Hardship Assistance |
| Manitoba | Employment and Income Assistance Funeral Program | Offers funeral and burial services for eligible low-income individuals. | Manitoba EIA |
| New Brunswick | Social Assistance Program | Provides financial support for funeral expenses for low-income families. | New Brunswick Social Assistance |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | Income Support Program | Offers funeral assistance as part of its income support benefits. | Newfoundland Income Support |
| Nova Scotia | Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) | Offers financial support for low-income individuals for funeral costs. | Nova Scotia ESIA |
| Ontario | Ontario Works Funeral Benefit | Provides assistance to cover funeral costs for those receiving Ontario Works or ODSP. | Ontario Works |
| Prince Edward Island | Social Assistance Funeral Program | Covers basic funeral costs for those receiving social assistance. | PEI Social Assistance |
| Quebec | Programme d’aide sociale aux funérailles | Provides financial assistance for funeral services for low-income residents. | Quebec Funeral Aid |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Assistance Program | Offers support for funeral expenses for individuals receiving social assistance. | Saskatchewan Funeral Aid |
| Northwest Territories | NWT Health and Social Services Funeral Assistance | Provides financial aid for funeral services to low-income families. | NWT Funeral Assistance |
| Nunavut | Nunavut Income Assistance Program | Provides financial support for funeral costs for low-income individuals. | Nunavut Income Assistance |
| Yukon | Yukon Funeral Assistance | Offers social support for funeral expenses for eligible residents. | Yukon Funeral Assistance |
These provincial and territorial programs typically cover basic funeral services, such as burial or cremation, a simple casket or urn, and transportation of the deceased. Families must apply directly through the respective programs to determine eligibility and receive assistance.
Municipal Assistance Programs
In many Canadian municipalities, local governments provide financial assistance for funerals, particularly for families unable to cover the costs. These programs often cover basic services, including cremation, burial, a simple casket, and transportation of remains. Here’s a table of the top municipalities across Canada where assistance is available:
Municipal Assistance Programs by Province
| Municipality | Province/Territory | Contact Office/Department | Phone Number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brampton | Ontario | Region of Peel Financial and Social Assistance | 905-793-9200 | Brampton Funeral Assistance |
| Burnaby | British Columbia | Burnaby Social Assistance | 604-294-7944 | Burnaby Services |
| Calgary | Alberta | Calgary Emergency Social Services | 403-268-8888 | Calgary Funeral Assistance |
| Charlottetown | Prince Edward Island | Charlottetown Social Assistance Program | 902-368-4889 | Charlottetown Services |
| Edmonton | Alberta | Edmonton Family and Community Support Services | 311 (within Edmonton) | Edmonton Funeral Services |
| Fredericton | New Brunswick | Fredericton Social Development Department | 506-453-2001 | Fredericton Services |
| Gander | Newfoundland and Labrador | Gander Social Services | 709-256-4065 | Gander Services |
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | Halifax Municipal Services | 311 (within Halifax) | Halifax Funeral Assistance |
| Hamilton | Ontario | Hamilton Funeral and Burial Services | 905-546-2424 | Hamilton City Services |
| Iqaluit | Nunavut | Nunavut Department of Family Services | 867-975-5800 | Iqaluit Services |
| Montreal | Quebec | Division des affaires sociales | 514-872-9777 | Montreal City Services |
| Ottawa | Ontario | Social Services – Funeral Assistance Program | 613-580-2424 (ext. 26447) | Ottawa Funeral Services |
| Prince Albert | Saskatchewan | Prince Albert Social Services | 306-953-4367 | Prince Albert Services |
| Red Deer | Alberta | Red Deer Social Services | 403-342-8111 | Red Deer City Services |
| Regina | Saskatchewan | Regina Social and Income Support | 306-787-4987 | Regina City Services |
| Saint John | New Brunswick | Saint John Community and Social Services | 506-658-4455 | Saint John Services |
| Saskatoon | Saskatchewan | Saskatoon Income Assistance and Social Programs | 306-975-3327 | Saskatoon Funeral Assistance |
| Surrey | British Columbia | Surrey Social Development Programs | 604-591-4370 | Surrey City Services |
| Sydney | Nova Scotia | Cape Breton Regional Municipality Social Services | 902-563-0470 | Sydney Services |
| Thompson | Manitoba | Thompson Community Services | 204-677-7910 | Thompson Funeral Assistance |
| Toronto | Ontario | Toronto Funeral Services Program | 311 (within Toronto) | Toronto Funeral Services |
| Vancouver | British Columbia | City of Vancouver Social Development Department | 311 (within Vancouver) | Vancouver City Services |
| Whitehorse | Yukon | Yukon Health |
Charities That Can Help Pay for a Funeral by Province
In addition to government and municipal assistance, various charitable organizations across Canada offer financial support for funeral expenses. Here is a list of charities by province:
Charities by Province
| Province | Charity/Organization | Description | Phone Number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS) | Provides emergency financial assistance for low-income families | 403-717-0922 | CUPS Calgary |
| The Mustard Seed | Offers support for funeral expenses for individuals in hardship | 1-877-731-7333 | Mustard Seed | |
| The Salvation Army Alberta | Provides emergency financial support for funeral costs | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army Alberta | |
| British Columbia | BC Bereavement Helpline | Connects families with resources for funeral support | 604-738-9950 | BC Bereavement |
| BC Funeral Association | Provides information on affordable funeral options | 604-856-2346 | BC Funeral Association | |
| The Salvation Army BC | Offers emergency financial support for funerals | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army BC | |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Funeral Service Association | Offers resources for affordable funeral services | 204-947-0927 | Manitoba Funeral Services |
| The Salvation Army Manitoba | Offers financial support, including for funeral expenses | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army Manitoba | |
| Winnipeg Harvest | Provides emergency assistance for low-income families | 204-982-3660 | Winnipeg Harvest | |
| New Brunswick | New Brunswick Funeral Directors Association | Provides resources for affordable funeral services | 506-458-9272 | NB Funeral Association |
| New Brunswick Social Development | Offers financial support for low-income families | 506-453-2001 | NB Social Development | |
| The Salvation Army New Brunswick | Provides emergency and funeral assistance | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army NB | |
| Nova Scotia | Feed Nova Scotia | Provides emergency assistance, including funeral support | 902-457-1900 | Feed Nova Scotia |
| The Salvation Army Nova Scotia | Offers emergency financial assistance for funerals | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army NS | |
| Nova Scotia Community Services | Offers social assistance programs that include funeral costs | 1-877-424-1177 | NS Community Services | |
| Ontario | Bereavement Ontario Network | Offers resources for families facing funeral costs | 519-603-0196 | Bereavement Ontario Network |
| Ontario Works Funeral Program | Offers financial assistance for funerals for low-income families | Varies by municipality | Ontario Works Funeral | |
| The Salvation Army Ontario | Provides emergency financial support for funeral expenses | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army Ontario | |
| Prince Edward Island | East Prince Seniors Initiative | Provides financial assistance to seniors for funeral expenses | 902-888-2178 | East Prince Seniors |
| PEI Family Services | Offers social assistance, including funeral aid for low-income families | 902-368-5338 | PEI Family Services | |
| The Salvation Army PEI | Provides emergency financial support for funerals | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army PEI | |
| Quebec | Fondation du Grand Montréal | Connects families with resources and grants for funeral assistance | 514-866-0808 | FGM Montreal |
| Société Saint-Vincent de Paul (SSVP) | Provides emergency financial support for funeral services | 1-888-375-7600 | SSVP Quebec | |
| The Salvation Army Quebec | Offers emergency financial support for funeral expenses | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army Quebec | |
| Saskatchewan | Regina Food Bank | Provides emergency financial support, including funeral aid | 306-791-6533 | Regina Food Bank |
| Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service | Offers emergency support to families in crisis, including funeral costs | 306-933-6200 | Saskatoon Crisis | |
| The Salvation Army Saskatchewan | Offers financial assistance for funerals and other services | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army SK | |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | St. Vincent de Paul Society NL | Offers emergency financial support to families for funerals | 709-726-3660 | SSVP NL |
| The Gathering Place | Provides support for low-income individuals, including funerals | 709-753-3234 | The Gathering Place | |
| The Salvation Army NL | Offers financial assistance, including funeral support | 1-800-725-2769 | Salvation Army NL | |
| Yukon | The Outreach Van | Provides emergency services and connects families with resources | 867-333-5207 | Outreach Van Yukon |
| Yukon Health and Social Services | Offers social assistance, including funeral aid for low-income families | 867-667-5678 | Yukon Health Services | |
| Northwest Territories | NWT Health and Social Services | Offers financial assistance to low-income families for funerals | 867-767-9061 | NWT Health Services |
| Nunavut | Nunavut Family Services | Provides social assistance, including funeral aid for families in need | 867-975-5800 | Nunavut Family Services |
Crowdfunding as an Option
Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe or FundRazr have become a popular option for families looking to raise money to cover funeral expenses. These platforms allow individuals to create online campaigns where friends, family, and community members can donate money. Although crowdfunding does not guarantee that all costs will be covered, it can ease the financial burden for families who do not qualify for other assistance.
When using crowdfunding, be sure to provide clear details about how the funds will be used, and keep donors updated on the progress of the campaign.
Funeral Home Payment Plans
Many funeral homes in Canada offer payment plans or financing options to help families manage funeral costs over time. These plans typically allow families to pay for funeral services in monthly installments, which can range from 6 months to several years. Interest rates and terms vary, so it’s important to compare options and read contracts carefully.
How Funeral Home Payment Plans Work:
- Initial Deposit: Funeral homes often require an upfront deposit, usually covering a portion of the overall cost.
- Monthly Payments: The remaining balance is spread over a series of monthly payments, depending on the plan.
- Interest Rates: Some plans have low-interest rates, while others may include higher fees, depending on the funeral home and the family’s creditworthiness.
- Eligibility: Families need to check with funeral homes directly to learn more about their specific financing options and eligibility criteria.
Many funeral homes partner with third-party financing companies to offer these services, so be sure to ask if this option is available when planning a funeral.
Help to Pay for a Funeral by Province
Here are our pages that contain information and resources that help pay for funeral that are specific to each Canadian province.
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- More to come…
