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Call our UK team today 0800 904 7649

Call our UK team today 0800 904 7649

Guaranteed
Funeral Plan

"One of the most affordable ways to cover the cost of a funeral"

Alan Titchmarsh
  • Guarantees to cover a funeral’s cost
  • Guaranteed financial protection2
  • Beginning from just £9.25 a month1

Get a funeral plan quote

100 pound free gift. Alan titchmarsh holding a mug.

Free £100 gift card*

  • Guarantees to cover a funeral’s cost
  • Guaranteed financial protection2
  • Beginning from just £9.25 a month1

Cover rising costs with a funeral plan

The SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan is an insurance policy which guarantees to pay for your chosen funeral services, provided by Dignity.

Our guarantee

  • Guaranteed acceptance if you're aged 50-80. No medical required or health questions answered
  • Premiums beginning from £9.25 a month - depending on your age and the plan you choose.
  • After two years the plan guarantees to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services.
  • If you die during the first two years, a full refund will be made of all premiums paid.
  • You are covered immediately if you die in an accident. Terms and conditions apply.
  • 100% payout protection. The life insurance which pays for the plan comes with FSCS protection.

Considerations

  1. This is an insurance policy not a savings plan, so there is no cash in value.

  2. Premiums start lower and go up each year for a maximum of 20 years to keep up with rising funeral costs.

  3. Premiums are payable until age 90 unless you die earlier.

  4. Depending on how long you live, you could pay in more than the cost of the funeral.

  5. You need to pay all premiums when due, including annual increase.

  6. If your monthly payments stop, your plan will end, and your funeral services would not be provided.

  7. What if I want to be buried?

Cover rising costs with a funeral plan

The SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan is an insurance policy which guarantees to pay for your chosen funeral services, provided by Dignity.

  • Guaranteed acceptance if you're aged 50-80. No medical required or health questions answered
  • Premiums beginning from £9.25 a month - depending on your age and the plan you choose.
  • After two years the plan guarantees to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services.
  • If you die during the first two years, a full refund will be made of all premiums paid.
  • You are covered immediately if you die in an accident. Terms and conditions apply.
  • 100% payout protection. The life insurance which pays for the plan comes with FSCS protection.
  1. This is an insurance policy not a savings plan, so there is no cash in value.
  2. Premiums start lower and go up each year for a maximum of 20 years to keep up with rising funeral costs.
  3. Premiums are payable until age 90 unless you die earlier.
  4. Depending on how long you live, you could pay in more than the cost of the funeral.
  5. You need to pay all premiums when due, including annual increase.
  6. If your monthly payments stop, your plan will end, and your funeral services would not be provided.
  7. What if I want to be buried?

Compare our funeral plans

Direct cremation

Read our helpful article What is a direct cremation?

Traditional

  • A cremation (or burial contribution)
  • Return of ashes to loved ones
  • A smarter coffin
  • A cremation service
  • A hearse

Traditional Plus

  • A cremation (or burial contribution)
  • Return of ashes to loved ones
  • A high quality coffin
  • A cremation service
  • A hearse
  • Two limousines
  • Transportation to a separate service
    (e.g. a church service)5

Get a quote

All our levels of cover include the following:

  • Personal contact with a Dignity funeral director
  • Death registration guidance and paperwork collection
  • Collection, preparation and care of the deceased
  • 24/7 professional guidance and bereavement counselling

Why choose the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan?

As well as one of the most affordable ways to pay for your funeral, the SunLife plan2 comes with guaranteed financial protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) – so you know your money is 100% safe, no matter what.

  • The safer plan – You have 100% payout protection2
  • The trusted plan – We’ve paid over £305 million in claims3 across our product range
  • Enjoy a free £100 gift card – To say thank you for choosing SunLife

(Almost) everything you need to know about the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan in 60 seconds...
Video transcript
Why Choose The SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan?

Jim spends his spare time in the garden, looking after his flowers.

But they can be difficult to manage, unlike The SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan.

It’s really straightforward. All Jim did was choose the plan he could afford, leaving the details to sort later.

After all, starting from under £10 a month, it’s one of the most affordable plans in the UK.

So when funeral costs rise, Jim knows the cost of his chosen funeral services will be covered - once his plan has been in place for 2 years.

Jim trusts it too because it’s one of the few that comes with guaranteed financial protection, giving him real peace of mind knowing his family won’t have to worry.

He even got a free gift voucher. Which he spent on making the garden look blooming marvellous.

To find out more about the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan, call free today or get a quote online.

Funeral cost calculator

Calculate the average cost of a funeral in your area

The average cost of a funeral in your area is:
£ 0*

Protect your loved ones from rising funeral costs by having a funeral plan in place.

Get a funeral plan quote

To find out more call free on: 0800 904 7649

*Find out how we calculate funeral costs. The costs in this calculator are from research carried out in May 2018 and the cost of a funeral in the future is likely to be more than this.

SunLife Guaranteed funeral plan reviews

Feefo Gold Trusted Service 2019

Customers have chosen SunLife’s plan to help pay for their funerals.

With over 200 years’ experience we know what makes great service. That’s why we’re a Feefo Gold Trusted Service Provider for the fourth year running.

But don’t take our word for it, see why people like you have given us 4.8 stars for our service. Based on 3954 reviews over the past year.

Easy fast response and good help and information
I always have great customer service with sun life and I would recommend them to everyone
- MRS QUICK
Great experience
Was very easy and you could understand every thing was a great service very happy
- MRS CORNES
Very quick and easy to use website, clear explanations and reasonably priced
Excellent!!
- TRUSTED CUSTOMER

Questions?  Read our FAQs

Get a funeral plan quote

Read more about funeral planning

Funeral planning isn’t something we think about every day, but a little forward thinking can really help your loved ones. Get started today by reading our helpful tips and tools.

Helpful planning tools

Explore more of our funeral planning tips and tools >

Answers to your questions

Is a funeral plan worth it?

Today, the average cost of a funeral is over four thousand pounds – and prices are set to carry on rising4. A funeral plan that guarantees to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services can help reduce the financial pressure on your family when the time comes and before your estate has been sorted.

A pay monthly funeral plan can also help if you want to cover funeral costs but don’t have a lump sum to pay in advance. As with any financial decision, there are important things to consider before taking out a funeral plan. Read what is a funeral plan and important information to make sure you understand our plan.

How does the Guaranteed Funeral Plan work?

Your monthly payments will be paid into a life insurance policy provided by Phoenix Life Limited. Once you’ve had your plan for at least two years, the cost of your chosen funeral services will be covered whenever you pass away, as long as you fully pay all your premiums when due.

How do I know my money is safe?

When you take out a SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan, you can relax knowing it comes with protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)2.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is there to protect your money in the unlikely event that Phoenix Life Limited were to go out of business and were therefore unable to meet their obligations. In this instance, you would be able to claim your money back via the FSCS. Many other companies that offer funeral plans don’t come with this protection.

Can I have a burial with a SunLife funeral plan?

Yes – with Traditional and Traditional plus, you can choose a burial instead of a cremation if you wish. In this case, an allowance is provided towards the burial costs instead. The cost of a burial varies widely across the UK. So, while the burial cost allowance does increase each year, we cannot guarantee it will cover the full cost.

Who provides the funeral? Can I choose?

The funeral services are provided by Dignity (the funeral provider). They will allocate a funeral director at the time of need. Then, when you pass away, the life insurance payout goes directly to the funeral provider and they make the chosen funeral arrangements with your family.

Who is Dignity?

Dignity Funerals Ltd are one of the UK’s leading funeral providers. With over 800 funeral directors all over the country, they offer the highest standards of care. We’ve teamed up with them to provide the funeral services covered in your plan. So, when the time comes, we will pay the money from your Guaranteed Funeral Plan directly to Dignity. They will let your loved ones know where your nearest funeral director is located and will carry out your chosen funeral services.

If you choose direct cremation, your funeral will be carried out by Simplicity Cremations, who are part of Dignity, and were named the ‘Best Direct Cremation Provider’ 2018 (Good Funeral Awards 2018).

What’s not included in my SunLife funeral plan?

This depends on the type of cover you choose, but anything that is not in your plan summary won’t be included. For burials, an additional monetary contribution can be required by the family to cover the higher costs of a burial.

As standard, our funeral plans will not cover extra services such as flowers, orders of service, death notice, wake venue hire, catering and memorials. Any costs incurred for any additional service (eg. A church service) is also not included and would need to be paid for at the time.To get an idea of funeral costs with the additional extras, you can use our funeral cost calculator.

If a medical certificate is required, this would incur an additional cost.

What if I buy a plan then move house?

The funeral provider has 800 funeral directors all over the country, so if you move house just give us a call on 0800 904 7649 to notify us of your new address, and they will be on hand when the time comes. For Direct Cremation, this must remain within mainland UK.

How do you know funeral costs are rising?

The average cost of a basic funeral in the UK today is over four thousand pounds4. SunLife have carried out comprehensive, annual research over the last 15 years which shows that funeral costs have more than doubled since then and are predicted to be on average over five thousand pounds in the next 5 years.

So beat rising funeral costs today. The SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan guarantees to cover the cost of a funeral when you pass away – no matter how much you’ve paid in, or how much prices rise.

When the time comes, how does my family make a claim?

It’s really straightforward. When you take out a plan, you’ll receive a welcome pack containing contact details for Dignity. Please make sure you let someone know where this is kept. When you pass away, your family just need to call them and they’ll advise what happens next.

What happens if I stop paying?

If you stop making your monthly payments or cancel, your plan will come to an end, you won’t get anything back and your chosen funeral services will not be provided.

Can I have more than one funeral plan/funeral benefit option?

Unfortunately, you can only have one funeral plan, and you cannot have a funeral plan and a Funeral Benefit Option (available with some over 50s life insurance). If you have any questions, please call on 0800 008 6060.

What the difference between a funeral plan or over 50 life insurance?

When it comes to helping your loved ones with your funeral costs, funeral plans and over 50s life insurance are two popular choices. To learn more about the differences between these options, read our article: Life insurance or funeral plan? An easy guide.

When will I get my free gift?

You'll receive your FREE £100 gift card after you've made 6 monthly payments. It's yours to spend across thousands of high street stores including Argos, Boots, Currys PC World, Halfords, Iceland, Marks and Spencer, Matalan and Wilko. Full terms and conditions apply.

The smallest print

Not all products are available outside of mainland UK, please call us to discuss if you have any queries.

This website contains information on how these funeral plans work. It does not contain advice, so you need to be satisfied this type of funeral plan meets your needs. If you are unsure and need advice, please visit unbiased.co.uk to find an independent financial adviser in your area.

Phoenix Life Limited is the provider of your policy and trades as SunLife. SunLife Limited distributes financial products and services and is a company limited by shares, registered office: 1 Wythall Green Way, Wythall, Birmingham B47 6WG (registered in England, No. 05460862). SunLife Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the Financial Services Register (registration No. 769427). Dignity Funerals Ltd arranges and provides the funeral services. Dignity Funerals is not authorised or regulated for this activity by either the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority. Dignity Funerals Ltd is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors.

1For a 50 year old buying our direct cremation plan.

*Gift sent after 6 months’ premiums paid. £100 gift value offer ends 13th Dec 2019. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Full terms and conditions apply.

2The life cover which pays for the funeral comes with FSCS protection. For more information read our FAQ on how the Guaranteed Funeral Plan works and how your money is safe.

3As at 07.01.2019

4SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2018.

5Please note, any costs incurred for the separate ceremony would need to be paid for at the time.

Full Guaranteed Funeral Plan terms and conditions (PDF)

Here's the information that you need to know about who we are and the other companies that we work with in order to provide our products and services.

Who are SunLife?

Phoenix Life Limited trades as SunLife and is the provider of the Guaranteed Over 50 Plan, SunLife Insurance and the life insurance policy payment option for Funeral Plans. Phoenix Life Limited’s registered office is at 1 Wythall Green Way, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6WG (registered in England, no. 1016269). 

SunLife Limited distributes financial products and services and is a company limited by shares, registered office: 1 Wythall Green Way, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6WG (registered in England, no. 05460862). SunLife Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the Financial Services Register (registration no. 769427).

You can contact us by post at SunLife, PO Box 1395, Peterborough, PE2 2TR or by phone on 0800 008 6060.

If you choose to add Funeral Benefit Option to your Guaranteed Over 50 Plan, Dignity Funerals Ltd arranges and provides the funeral services, registered office: 4 King Edwards Court, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B73 6AP (registered in England and Wales, No. 00041598). Dignity Funerals Ltd is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors.

Who provides the Funeral Plans?

Dignity Funerals Ltd arranges and provides the funeral services, registered office: 4 King Edwards Court, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B73 6AP (registered in England and Wales, No. 00041598). Dignity Funerals is not authorised or regulated for this activity by either the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority. Dignity Funerals Ltd is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors.

The life insurance policy that pays for your funeral will be provided by Phoenix Life Limited, trading as SunLife.

Who provides My Smarter (ISA)?

My Smarter (ISA) is provided by Scottish Friendly Asset Managers Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details can be found on the Financial Services register, registration No. 188832. Member of The Investment Association. Registered Office: Scottish Friendly House, 16 Blythswood Square, Glasgow G2 4HJ.

Who provides the Will writing services?

Hugh James is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number:303202).

The information contained on this website is based on Hugh James' understanding of the law of intestacy in England and Wales only as at April 2014. The law in Scotland and Northern Ireland is significantly different. This is for information purposes and is not intended to be legal advice.

Who provides SunLife Pet Insurance

SunLife Pet Insurance is arranged and administered by BDML Connect Limited. BDML Connect Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (No. 309140). Registered in England and Wales Number 02785540. Registered Office: 45 Westerham Road, Bessels Green, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 2QB.

Who provides SunLife Home Insurance

SunLife Home Insurance is arranged and administered by BISL Limited and underwritten by a panel of insurers. BISL Limited are an intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England no. 03231094. Registered office Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6YS.

Who provides SunLife Car Insurance

SunLife Car Insurance is arranged and administered by BISL Limited and underwritten by a panel of insurers. BISL Limited are an intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England no. 03231094. Registered office Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6YS.