Nova Scotia government spent $1.5M on funerals last year

The province spent $1.5 million last year to help people with financial difficulties pay for the funerals of loved ones.

Most of the people who received help covering funeral costs were on social assistance, butanyone can apply for help.

"For anyone in the general public, the way our program works is that if a family on behalf of the deceased is making the arrangements, they can come forward and request assistance with it," saidDeniseMacDonald-Billard, the province's director of income assistance with the Department of Community Services.

The province will cover a maximum of $3,800, plus taxes. Any costs beyond that is the individual's responsibility.

Last year, the province helped pay for450 funerals, which works out to an average of $3.400 per funeral. These numbers are quite consistent from year to year, said MacDonald-Billard.

How much does a funeral cost?

A basic cremation with no service can cost about $2,000, according to funeral director Erika Jobes Carey ofJ.M. Jobes Funeral Home in Sydney Mines.

The prices go up if someone wants a more traditional burial with a funeral service.Jobes Carey saysthe cost of that starts out around $5,000.

"In our business particularly, we would never turn anyone away. If someone is unable to pay their bill at the time payment is requested to be paid, we can set up an arrangement that works for them," said Jobes Carry.

MacDonald-Billard said most funeral directors know the province's policies.

"The minute someone indicates they would have a challenge financially paying for the funeral, they immediately direct them to our local district offices, so they're a wonderful partner in that regard," she said.

MacDonald-Billard said if someone believes they're going to have trouble paying for a funeral,they should contact the employment and income assistance office as soon as possible.

"That way they're in a better position to know how much they would be responsible for, if it exceeded the amount we were able to assist them with," she said.