Today many people, young and old, come to Cognetta Funeral Home
& Crematory to pre plan their funeral and final disposition. The
knowledgeable staff is ready to help you explore your options and provide price
quotes so you can make informed decisions.
Having your instructions recorded will give your survivors the peace of mind of
knowing that they are following your wishes.
You can take advantage of our website to explore funeral options on your
own.
One item of note is the fact that you do not have to pre pay for a funeral to
make pre arrangements.
Advance planning...arranging your affairs before you need Medicaid or Title 19
assistance is of utmost importance. You can not set aside a significant amount
of money for a funeral after you are receiving aid.
Assets You May Own When On
Title 19: up to $1600
In liquid assets: cash, bank
account, stocks, etc.: up to $1500
Face value of life insurance:
up to $5400
In an Irrevocable Funeral
Trust (with a funeral home). Interest earned on a Funeral Trust may
accumulate in your account: unlimited
A month allowance from your
retirement income or Social Security may be kept for personal needs when
confined to a rest home: no limit
Of additional funds in a
Revocable Burial Space Contract: (with a funeral home)
The State of Connecticut
has, through Public Acts 97-2 and 04-233, created specific opportunities for individuals
to establish funds for their funeral and/or final disposition. Money may be
safely protected in either an Irrevocable Funeral Trust Account or in a
Revocable Burial Plot Contract; or in a combination of both.
Both vehicles provide protection for your money. Neither may be considered an
asset that can affect a person's eligibility for financial assistance from the
State of Connecticut,
Medicaid and/or Title 19 programs.
Using a combination of these two financial vehicles you can prepay the entire
amount of a funeral service that reflects your personal choice and traditions.
The experienced staff at Cognetta’s can help you establish a funeral trust
account that protects your money and will meet your future needs while
complying with all the regulations for receiving aid from the State of
Connecticut.
Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory is able to offer funeral
trust accounts through Cooperative Funeral Fund, Inc. Your money is retained
here safely. Interest earned on your account is permitted to accumulate safely
and add to the value of your funeral trust without affecting any of your
benefits from Title 19.
While you still have some money left you should also decide which cemetery you
want to be buried in. You should go there, select your plot, and pay for it.
Some cemeteries will also permit you to prepay the cost of opening and closing
the grave. This is an additional expense ranging from $900.00 to $2,400.00,
depending on the cemetery of choice.
A receipt for such payment should be given to Cognetta’s so a copy is retained
with all of your other records and instructions for final disposition. Next, it
would be wise to purchase your monument or grave marker; and have the stone
lettered with your family’s surname.
A person who dies with no assets at all is entitled to only $1800 from the
State of Connecticut
for his/her final disposition. A person is not entitled to this money if they
have any other means to pay for a funeral, such as a funeral trust. Moreover,
the decedent’s family may contribute an additional $2,800 towards the funeral
without the funeral’s total exceeding $4,600.
Also, any money left in your personal accounts (limit $1,600) will revert to
the State of Connecticut
at the time of death.
You should initiate these actions as soon as it becomes apparent that due to
expensive medical treatments, extended hospital stays or confinement to a
convalescent home, you will deplete your financial resources.
Please contact us at Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory for additional
information.
