Maine Funeral Assistance Programs for Low-Income Families

When a family doesn't have the funds to cover a funeral, Maine has a patchwork of programs that can help — but the amounts are limited and the procedural requirements are strict. Miss the required notification steps and you can lose eligibility entirely.

Here's what's available, how much each program pays, and what you need to do to access them.

Maine General Assistance: The Primary Burial Program

Municipal General Assistance (GA) is the main source of state-funded burial help in Maine. Each of Maine's 482 municipalities administers its own GA program under state guidelines, and every municipality is required by law to provide emergency assistance to individuals who lack resources to meet their basic needs — including burial.

How much: The maximum GA burial assistance amount is $1,620. This covers basic burial or cremation expenses.

The critical procedural requirement: The funeral director must notify the municipal General Assistance administrator before the burial or cremation takes place. This is not a reimbursement program — it's a pre-authorization program. If the funeral home doesn't contact the GA office before the burial or cremation, the municipality can legally deny the entire claim.

If you're in this situation, call the GA office in the municipality where the deceased resided as soon as possible after death. Don't wait until after the service.

Who qualifies: Eligibility is income and asset based. The municipality will review the family's financial situation, including income, savings, and other available resources. GA is intended as a last resort — if the family can cover costs through other means (life insurance, burial funds, other benefits), GA is not available.

How to apply: Contact the municipal GA office directly. In cities like Portland, Bangor, and Lewiston, the GA office is part of the social services department. In small towns, the town clerk or selectboard can direct you. Applications must be submitted promptly — don't let days pass before making contact.

Social Security Lump-Sum Death Benefit

The Social Security Administration provides a one-time payment of $255 to the surviving spouse or, in certain cases, eligible surviving children of a deceased worker who had sufficient Social Security credits.

Eligibility: The surviving spouse must have been living with the deceased at the time of death, or must have been receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits on the deceased's record. If there is no eligible surviving spouse, surviving children who are entitled to benefits on the deceased's record may be eligible.

How to apply: Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office. Apply as soon as possible — there is a two-year deadline from the date of death.

Important: The $255 is not a funeral benefit — it goes to the surviving spouse or child, not the funeral home. It can be used toward burial expenses, but don't rely on it to cover a large bill.

Department of Veterans Affairs: Burial Allowances

If the deceased was a veteran, the VA provides separate burial benefits. These are addressed in detail on the maine-veterans-burial-benefits page. The amount depends on factors including whether the death was service-connected, where the burial occurs, and the veteran's benefit status; check the VA's current rules before relying on a figure.

The VA burial allowance is a separate program; confirm with both agencies whether it can be combined with GA assistance in your situation.

MaineCare-Funded Burials

For individuals who were receiving MaineCare (Medicaid) benefits at the time of death, DHHS may have burial fund provisions in place, particularly in connection with any pre-need funeral trust arrangements. However, MaineCare itself does not provide a separate burial benefit analogous to GA. The primary route remains municipal GA, supplemented by any pre-need arrangements the deceased established.

If the deceased held a funeral trust or burial fund, ask the funeral provider or DHHS how it will be treated before relying on it; do not assume that it is exempt from MaineCare estate recovery.

Charity Funds Through Funeral Homes

Many Maine funeral homes participate in hardship assistance programs, either through their own foundations or through state and national funeral service associations. These are discretionary and vary by provider, but it is always worth asking directly.

Some fraternal organizations (Elks, Masons, Knights of Columbus, Odd Fellows) maintain small burial assistance funds for members. If the deceased was a member of any organization, contact them before the service.

What Funeral Assistance Does Not Cover

These programs cover the basic cost of a simple burial or cremation. They do not cover:

• Premium funeral packages, embalming when not legally required, or elaborate caskets
• Cemetery plot purchase (though VA provides a separate plot allowance)
• Transportation of remains across state lines
• Monuments or grave markers (VA provides a free headstone or marker for veterans)
• Reception, flowers, or other non-disposition expenses

If you're working within a tight budget, understanding what is and isn't covered by each program helps you structure the funeral arrangements before signing any contracts.

Coordinating Multiple Sources

These programs are administered separately, but eligibility and coordination rules vary. Confirm with each agency before counting on combined assistance — including GA up to $1,620, the $255 SSA payment, and any applicable VA burial allowance.

The key is sequencing: notify GA before the burial or cremation, apply to the SSA immediately after, and apply to the VA as soon as you have the certified death certificate and a copy of the veteran's DD-214 discharge form.

A Maine funeral director is required by FTC regulations to provide you with an itemized General Price List before any arrangements are made. Use it to compare costs and identify the minimum-cost options that meet legal requirements.

The Bigger Financial Picture

Funeral costs are typically the first expense families face, but they're rarely the most financially significant. The ongoing questions — what happens to the house, the car, the bank accounts, Social Security survivor benefits, and any pension — require a different kind of planning.

The Maine Survivor Benefits Navigator covers the full sequence of financial tasks after a death in Maine: from funeral assistance through estate closure, including the forms, deadlines, and agency contacts in one place.

See more Maine guides →