Public Assistance and Medicaid Planning
Understanding at-need assistance and Medicaid-related funeral funding
Some families may qualify for public assistance to help with funeral expenses at the time of need. We can help guide them through the process, including eligibility, paperwork, and coordination with the appropriate agencies.
Others may be planning ahead as Medicaid becomes a consideration and want to set aside funds for a funeral down the road. We can help put an irrevocable arrangement in place so those funds are protected and properly designated.
Public Assistance for Funeral Expenses
Step 1
To begin the process, we will need the decedent's full name, home address, and Social Security number. Depending on the county of residence, additional information may also be required.
Step 2
Our funeral directors will then contact the county board of social services to verify eligibility and seek conditional approval for public assistance funeral funds.
Step 3
If approval is granted, we will move forward with arrangements in accordance with public assistance guidelines. Families who prefer options beyond those guidelines may also choose to make arrangements at their own expense.
Medicaid and Irrevocable Preplanning
Some individuals begin planning ahead as Medicaid becomes a consideration. In New Jersey, SSI/Medicaid and General Assistance rules allow a person to set aside money in an irrevocable prepaid funeral account without those funds being counted as a resource for eligibility purposes.
This type of planning allows a person to make funeral arrangements in advance and reserve funds for those expenses before assets are reduced for medical care or spent down to eligibility levels. If someone expects to receive SSI/Medicaid or General Assistance within the next six months, they may establish an irrevocable funeral arrangement without affecting eligibility.
For Medicaid-related planning, the arrangement must be irrevocable, meaning the funds cannot be refunded or used for any purpose other than funeral costs. New Jersey guidance recognizes two primary ways to fund this type of arrangement: through an irrevocable prepaid funeral trust account or through an irrevocable assignment of an existing insurance policy. Any remaining funds after the payment of funeral expenses must be forwarded to the State of New Jersey as required by law.
We can help families put an irrevocable arrangement in place, explain what may and may not be included, and coordinate the funding option that best fits the individual situation.
Why Families Choose Dancy Funeral Home
No matter what form it takes — from a formal church service to an intimate gathering around the kitchen table —
coming together matters. And we’re here to help you do it with grace, warmth, and meaning
What May Be Included
When properly established, these arrangements may generally include funeral director professional services, funeral home facility and staff charges, transportation, a casket, vault, urn, and cash advances such as death certificates, crematory charges, and cemetery expenses.
Generally Eligible Expenses
Funeral director professional services, funeral home facility and staff charges, transportation, a casket, vault, urn, and cash advances such as death certificates, crematory charges, and cemetery expenses.
Not Generally Eligible
Certain items are typically disallowed, including flowers, transportation for living family members, travel expenses for the living, repasts, gratuities, and other goods or services for the living. Including disallowed items can jeopardize eligibility, so these arrangements should be structured carefully from the start.
Choose meaningful music
Families often create a playlist of favorite songs, artists, or genres to play during visitation or the service itself. Live music can also add a beautiful personal element — we can help arrange for a keyboardist, harpist, vocalist, or even traditional bagpipes when appropriate.
Incorporate favorite readings, poems, or prayer
Whether spiritual, literary, or handwritten by a loved one, these words give voice to what lives in the heart.
Set up a tribute table or memory display
Showcase photos, awards, handwritten notes, or personal mementos to celebrate your loved one’s life, values, and passions.
As an independent, family-owned funeral home, we believe these conversations should be handled with clarity, patience, and respect. Whether a family is navigating public assistance at the time of death or planning ahead as Medicaid becomes a factor, we take the time to explain the options clearly and guide each step carefully.
We can help gather the necessary information, coordinate with the appropriate agencies, and structure funeral funding in a way that aligns with current requirements. Our goal is to make a complicated subject feel more manageable, so families can make informed decisions with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between public assistance and Medicaid funeral planning?
Public assistance usually refers to possible financial help available at the time of death, depending on eligibility. Medicaid funeral planning refers to planning ahead by setting aside funeral funds in an irrevocable arrangement so they are reserved for funeral expenses and not counted the same way for eligibility purposes.
How do we find out if someone qualifies for public assistance funeral funds?
We begin by gathering the decedent's full name, address, and Social Security number. We then contact the county board of social services to verify eligibility and seek conditional approval.
Does a Medicaid-related funeral pre-arrangement have to be irrevocable?
Yes. For Medicaid-related planning, the arrangement must be irrevocable.
What can usually be included in a Medicaid-compliant funeral arrangement?
These arrangements may generally include funeral home professional services, staff and facility charges, transportation, a casket, vault, urn, and certain cash advances such as cemetery, crematory, and death certificate charges.
What is usually not allowed in an irrevocable Medicaid arrangement?
Items for the living are typically not permitted. This may include flowers, repasts, travel expenses for living family members, gratuities, and similar goods or services.
Can families choose services beyond what public assistance covers?
Yes. Families who prefer options beyond public assistance guidelines may choose to make private arrangements at their own expense.
I already have a revocable Prepaid Funeral Trust Fund. Can it be changed to irrevocable status for Medicaid purposes?
Yes. A revocable Prepaid Funeral Trust Fund can be converted to irrevocable status for Medicaid purposes. We will prepare the necessary form for you to sign and provide the documentation needed for your Medicaid caseworker.
Get Started
If you have questions about public assistance, Medicaid planning, or establishing an irrevocable funeral arrangement, we are here to help explain your options clearly and compassionately.
Discover the Dancy Difference
Prepaid Funeral Trusts
Planning ahead as Medicaid becomes a consideration? Learn how a prepaid funeral trust can be converted to irrevocable status and used to reserve funds for funeral expenses.
Funeral Funding Options
See how public assistance and Medicaid-related planning fit into the broader picture of funeral funding, including insurance assignments and at-need payment options.
Questions About Eligibility or Planning?
If you are unsure whether public assistance may apply or want help setting up an irrevocable arrangement, we are here to guide you.
