Page 6 - Pakistan Link - July 30, 2021

P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – JULY 30, 2021 OPINION
n By Dr Aslam Abdullah Help with Funeral Cost Iowa - Provides temporary cash and grant
CA assistance with basic and special needs, such
as funeral services or related expenses.
early 8,000 people die in the US Kansas – No programs are available.
each day. The rising burial cost has Kentucky can pay for indigent burials. In-
Nmade it difficult for some 40 percent dividuals who are without financial means or
of families to afford it. Even though we put insurance can get the cost of a funeral.
a religious tag on the dead Louisiana – Call your local county for
body, the Creator wants us advice.
to be respectful to everyone Maine – The state general assistance fund
who returns to him. Burial, can pay for funerals/burials. It de-pends on
cremation, leaving dead bod- funding levels as well as the quali-fication of
ies to vultures are part of our the applicant.
tradition. They are in prac- Maryland Department of Human Re-
tice throughout our history. Muslims, Jews, sources runs the Burial Assistance Program.
part of Hindus and Christians. and some Aid is only available when their families can-
Buddhists and atheists believe in burial. The not afford funeral costs on their own. 1-800-
cost of a burial is higher than cremation. 332-6347
Like the rest of the population, Muslims Massachusetts – The Department of
have many families who find it hard to bear a Transitional Assistance is responsible for fu-
simple burial cost. Whenever any family faces neral and burial expenses for those with no
such a situation, the community comes for- other options or means available to them.
ward and raises the necessary funds. Still, the Michigan offers a program known as
estimates are that one in every hundred dead has died in the county, provided they don’t Florida Health and Human Services pro- Home & Burial Services. Burial payment as-
Muslims may face cremation due to several have financial means. vides proper burial arrangements for poverty- sistance may be available to pay for expenses
factors. Alaska – Assistance is only offered for stricken residents and those whose bodies are such as funeral, the burial itself, church ser-
Financial assistance is available to help tribal members. unclaimed. vice, or even the costs associated with the do-
pay for some or all of the burial costs for low- Arizona - Limited burial/cremation ex- Georgia – No statewide program. nation of a body to a medical school.
income families, the working poor, and senior penses are available. Call your local county Hawaii – The state provides up to $400 Minnesota - Some counties in the state,
citizens living on a limited income. office. toward funeral home or crematory expenses. such as Hennepin, offer Funeral Assistance
Some states might offer direct financial Arkansas – Each County Judge offers a The government may also offer other support programs. In some cases, individual counties
help for paying funeral bills, caskets, trans- Paupers fund to the indigent and low income. as an additional $400 for cemetery expenses. may pay funds (even up to $2,100) directly to
portation costs if the death was out of state to This fund is payable to the funeral home for Idaho – Funeral assistance varies by the funeral home or providers. All aid depends
families in hardship. The Funeral Consum- individuals with no insurance or cash to pay county. For example, Twin Falls may offer up on county funding and the individual’s needs.
ers Alliance provides advice and services to for a funeral. to $895 for Basic Service and $695 for funeral The State law requires that counties pay neces-
deserving families. The FCA is a non-profit California – No statewide assistance is $695. sary funeral expenses to cremate or bury those
group and partners with several affiliates that available. Call your local coroner’s office for Illinois Department of Human Services who die alone and destitute.
operate across the nation. advice and the county before contacting a fu- operates the Funeral and Burial Unit at (217) Mississippi - No statewide services are
The phone number of the main office of neral home. 524-5294. This government-run department available.
Funeral Consumers Alliance is 1-802-482- Colorado Department of Human Servic- pays the funeral and burial expenses of a per- Missouri – Any assistance will vary at the
3437. es (CDHS) offers Burial Assistance. son with limited income and assets. Limits county level.
Social Security Administration might Connecticut Department of Social Ser- include up to $1,103 for funeral costs and/ Montana – No statewide resources are
help individuals who are currently receiving vices – This government agency will pay up to or $552 for burial costs. But the family needs available.
Social Security payments from the federal $1,800, less any assets in the deceased’s estate, to apply as well. The amount of money spent, Nebraska – Some regions, such as Doug-
government. toward funeral or burial expenses. including family contribution and state as- las County, will consider providing financial
Alabama – According to Alabama law, Delaware – May contribute up to $400 for sistance, may not exceed $2,000 for cemetery assistance to pay for the burial of remains of
each county needs to pay the necessary burial pauper burial in one of three county cemeter- costs and $2,000 in funeral expenses/bills. any person who dies within the county’s
expenses and funeral costs of someone who ies. Indiana - Offers burial assistance. COST, P9

www.PakistanLink.com