It is unfortunately true that funeral prices are generally increasing across the board, and it can be difficult for families to provide the send-off they want for their loved ones. With the cost of a repatriation, this makes a death abroad a particularly challenging situation, alongside the grief and pain that a loss brings with it. It may unfortunately be the case that you cannot afford a repatriation of a loved one overseas. In those circumstances, we hope that this article may be of assistance. If you need more personal advice, our team are always on hand to offer support and guidance, and we can refer you to people that may be able to help.
What if someone dies abroad without travel insurance?
If the deceased died abroad without travel insurance, their loved ones are responsible for covering the costs of the repatriation if they wish to arrange one. Repatriation costs vary widely depending on the country, but they can cost anywhere from £3,000 to £15,000.
What if insurance refuses to pay for repatriation?
If the person did have travel insurance, you may be able to claim on their policy and get the fees covered. Body repatriation is covered under most plans, and the coverage is usually more than enough to cover repatriation from anywhere abroad. However, the travel insurance company may refuse to cover costs for a number of reasons, such as unreported medical conditions, the person taking part in activities not covered by the policy or other issues. In this case, the cost of the repatriation would fall to the family of the deceased.
It is recommended in this case to get a written version of the reasoning and to analyse it carefully. If you suspect your claim has been denied falsely, you can escalate it with a formal complaint. Upon doing this, you should seek legal advice. Services such as Citizen’s Advice or the Financial Ombudsman are available to do this, and you may find this link useful: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/complaints-can-help/insurance/travel-insurance/medical-expenses-repatriation.
Even if you wish to lodge a complaint, it is still recommended that you start the repatriation process before concluding the complaint if you do want to proceed with a repatriation. A repatriation can take weeks to organise, and you don’t need to pay upfront. As long as you are upfront with the repatriation provider, they will often try and be as flexible as possible.
Can you get government help with body repatriation costs?
The government and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is unable to help with funding for body repatriation. If you instead opt for a burial or cremation overseas, you may be able to get government support for paying for the funeral if you are on certain benefits. Once the loved one’s remains are back in the UK, the government may also be able to help with a UK funeral via the Funeral Expenses Payment scheme, which is similarly means-tested. For more information on this scheme, please visit; https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments
What to Do If You Can’t Afford a Repatriation
If you are responsible for covering the full cost of the repatriation and that simply isn’t possible, you have a number of options. The first option might be to consider a burial or cremation abroad. A cremation in particular is often much cheaper, and you can arrange for the ashes to be repatriated for much less than it would cost to repatriate the body. You can also receive government support for burial or cremation abroad similar to a local burial if you meet the criteria. If the deceased lived abroad, they will likely have indicated their wishes in their will, so it is always worth considering their wishes as much as possible.
If you are set on arranging a body repatriation, make your situation clear to your repatriation provider. They’ll be able to provide you with a more tailored plan to keep costs down. Most repatriation providers will also provide you with an itemised list of exactly what you are paying for upon request, and it’s always ideal to have this information in case there’s anything you can potentially change to reduce costs.
Once you have an idea of costs, you can start to attempt to raise funds. While there will be immense pressure to raise funds, we would always recommend against any sort of loan solution, as covering funeral costs shouldn’t require a formal loan, especially not from payday loan firms. We would recommend pursuing the other options below before considering a loan. If it is the only option, it might unfortunately be the case that body repatriation may just not be feasible, and you might need to consider a cremation or burial overseas. These are difficult realities to face, but the pressure of a major loan can be financially crippling for most families.
The most obvious way to raise funds is to ask family and friends to pitch in. It’s not always the most comfortable conversation, but in such a situation, loved ones will often rally together and anything you can raise will make a difference even if it’s not the full amount. Another route may be through crowdfunding. Platforms such as JustGiving or GoFundMe have become valuable resources for families looking to raise funds to fund healthcare and other costs, and the kindness of strangers in tough times is not to be disregarded. Of course, it is not always easy to ask for that support, but online crowdfunding does provide a bit of anonymity, and you are hardly alone on these platforms.
Finally, you may consider the support of charitable organisations. Across the UK and Ireland, there are a number of charities and non-profit organisations that are available to support with grants and financial support. The main repatriation organisations are listed below but for more information on organisations that might be able to help, this is a useful resource: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/death-abroad-uk-organisations-that-can-help
- JackTheLad – a UK-based repatriation charity focused on the repatriation of young adults between 16 and 30 years of age. Grants available up to £5,000.
- The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust – Ireland-based charity offering financial support and guidance to Irish families
- REST – Welsh-based charity offering bereavement support and financial aid to Welsh families
- Down to Earth (Quaker Social Action) — a free, confidential UK-wide helpline offering advice on funeral costs, funding options, and government support. They also have various online resources available.
The emotional burden of losing a loved one abroad is a difficult and painful experience, coupled with the potential financial stress of attempting to fund it yourself, it can be a massive weight on your shoulders. We are here to help. If you need support getting a loved one home after a death abroad or arranging their repatriation out of the UK, we are available 24/7 to offer our support and guidance.
