How to Get Help with Funeral Costs in Canada?

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.

Questions Answered

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.

Platforms: GoFundMe, FundRazr

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.