- How it works
- Benefits
- What to consider
- Funeral plans
- FAQs
How it works
Having a funeral plan in place means you can continue living life to the fullest without worrying about unexpected funeral costs. With our funeral plans you can cover yourself and multiple family members. When you apply for a funeral plan you are covered immediately, and valid claims can be paid in just 4 hours.
Benefits of a funeral plan
- Benefits
Cover for your family
Cover spouses, children and extended family.
Quick payouts
Valid claims paid within 4 business hours.
Flexibility
Freedom to choose how you spend the payout.
No waiting period
No waiting period for accidental death.
What to consider
Cover options
Decide if you need a plan that covers just you or allows you to add family members.
Cover amount
Make sure the payout amount will sufficiently cover the funeral expenses for your region and cultural needs.
Affordability
Choose a plan that fits within your budget and can be changed later if you need to.
Benefits
Understand which benefits are included, and which benefits you can customise and add later.
Claims process
A quick, hassle-free claims process with minimal paperwork is ideal. Our plans pay out within 4 business hours once we’ve received all claim details.
Funeral plans
Sanlam Digital Funeral Plan
Instant cover, no paperwork or phone calls
Update your policy online, anytime
Submit and track claims online
Sanlam Funeral Cover
Different plans to suit your needs
Dedicated human customer service
Expert help just a call away
Your questions answered
- What is funeral cover and do I need it?
Funeral cover provides financial protection for your family during an emotionally difficult time. It ensures that funerals can be arranged with dignity, without relying on savings, loans or stokvels to cover funeral expenses. Death isn’t something we can always prepare for. Without proper cover in place, unexpected funeral costs can cause serious debt or delays in burial arrangements.
- What’s the difference between funeral cover and life cover?
Funeral cover covers the immediate and unexpected costs of a funeral (such as burial, catering, transport, and other expenses). It pays out a lump sum to your beneficiaries, helping to avoid financial stress during a difficult time. Funeral cover doesn’t require underwriting questions, so cover is legally limited to R100,000 per life on the policy. Life cover is intended to cover ongoing living costs like bonds, vehicle repayments, living expenses and education fees should you pass away. It’s there to preserve the quality of life of your loved ones long after you’re gone and pays out a larger sum of money to your beneficiaries. To get life cover, you need to answer a few questions about yourself and your lifestyle (underwriting process). Because additional documents are required, claims take longer to pay out.
- Can’t I pay for funeral costs out of my savings?
Funeral costs vary depending on cultural customs and personal preferences, so it depends on how much you can set aside for funeral costs. A basic cremation or burial can cost up to R20,000. A traditional funeral with tents, catering and transport can easily cost around R50,000. A community funeral spanning multiple days can cost upwards of R80,000. If you’re just starting out with a savings account, you’ll want to consider how long it will take you to save enough for the funeral costs. Because death is often unpredictable, relying on savings alone can be risky.
- How many funeral plans can I have?
You cannot have more than one Sanlam funeral policy. You can have multiple funeral plans with other insurers but there is a legal limit of R100,000 cover per life on each policy.
- Why do I need beneficiaries?
Beneficiaries can use the funeral cover payout to pay for funeral arrangements. Legally, all funeral policies must have at least one beneficiary.