Age UK funeral plans review - Now Age Co
- All the services included in the plan for cremation funerals are fully guaranteed
- One of the highest allowances of £1,220 for burial fees
- Nationwide Dignity owned or approved funeral director coverage
- Now known as Age Co for funeral plans
Age UK funeral plans or Age Co as they are now known are one of the UK’s largest providers of prepaid funeral plans. Working in partnership with funeral plans provider Dignity, they are offer nationwide coverage with a range of options to choose from.
Please note: Age UK has currently paused the sale of its prepaid plans - please visit our prepaid funeral plan section.
Once you have read the Age UK funeral plan review, you can see how they compare with other FCA regulated plan providers.
Who is Age UK?
Age UK is largest UK registered charity for older people; formed in the UK in 2009 by the merger of the original charities Age Concern and Help the Aged.
AgeUK provides help, information and advice on a wide range of products and services to aid people through later life.
In addition to their charity work, they also offer a variety of financial services such Age UK Funeral Plans, various types of insurance including car insurance and travel insurance and Equity release, to name but a few.
Age UK now market their financial services as Age Co. So Age UK funeral Plans are now Age Co funeral plans.
What prepaid funeral plans do Age Co offer?
Age UK offer 4 traditional funeral plans:
- Basic funeral plan
- Ivy funeral plan
- Holly funeral plan
- Rowan funeral plan
They also offer 3 low cost plans which we look at in our direct cremation reviews.
Age Co Basic Funeral Plans – includes the funeral directors advice and guidance, transportation and care of the deceased, use of the chapel of rest, a basic coffin, hearse, services on the day and the cremation fees and ministers fees.
If the family prefer burial, then the Age Co funeral plan includes a full guarantee for the funeral services as well as an allowance of £1,220 for burial fees, the plot and minister’s fees which increases each year in line with inflation.
With this plan the times of the funeral service are restricted to before 10.30 or after 3.30pm on a Tuesday to a Thursday and there is also a restricted choice of approximately 800 Dignity owned funeral directors.
Age Co Ivy Funeral Plans – includes the funeral directors help and guidance, transportation and care of the deceased, use of the chapel of rest, a wood effect coffin, hearse, services on the day and also guarantees the cremation and ministers fees.
If the family prefer burial, then the plan includes a full guarantee for the funeral services and an allowance of £1,220 for burial fees, the plot and minister’s fees which increases each year in line with inflation.
Age Co Holly Funeral Plans – includes the funeral directors help and guidance, transportation and care of the deceased, use of the chapel of rest, a quality wood effect coffin, hearse, one limousine for family, services on the day and also a full guarantee for the cremation and ministers fees.
If the family prefer burial, then the plan includes a full guarantee for the funeral services and an allowance of £1,220 for burial fees, the plot and minister’s fees which increases each year in line with inflation.
Age Co Rowan Funeral Plans - includes the funeral directors help and guidance, transportation and care of the deceased, use of the chapel of rest, a high quality wood veneer coffin, hearse, two limousines for family, services on the day, a journey to a separate location in the procession before the vrematorium of burial site and the cremation and ministers fees.
If the family prefer burial, then the plan includes a full guarantee for the funeral services as mentioned and an allowance of £1,220 for burial fees, the plot and minister’s fees which increases each year in line with inflation.
What are the pros and cons of an Age UK funeral plan?
In addition to looking at the benefits of a prepaid funeral, it’s worth reviewing the possible drawbacks too. Here we look at the pros and cons of an Age UK funeral plan to help you consider if it’s the best funeral plan for you.
Age UK funeral plan pros
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Age UK funeral plan cons
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Age UK reviews by their customers
Age UK funeral plans are reviewed by customers on the independent review website Feefo. They have a rating of 4.7 out of 5 for both customer experience and the product they provide.
Age UK reviews by the industry
In addition to customer reviews, Age UK funeral plans have been reviewed by independent researcher of financial products Defaqto and consumer champion Which?, the details of which can be found on their websites.
Is my money secure with Age Co funeral plans?
Age Co funeral plans are provided by funeral planning specialist Dignity. Dignity are authorised by Financial Conduct Authority who regulate the UK’s funeral plan market. As Age Co are an appointed representative of Dignity, the plan is required to meet FCA rules and standards which ensures your money is held responsibly.
How can I pay for an Age UK funeral plan?
You can pay for an Age Co funeral plan either in one go or by monthly instalments. Here’s how each payment option works:
Single Payment
Paying in one go with a single payment is the cheapest way to buy and Age Co funeral plan as you don’t incur any additional fees. However, Age Co will also let you spread your payments over 12 months without incurring any additional fees.
Monthly Instalments
Monthly instalment options are available between 1 and 10 years for those who prefer to spread their payments over a longer period. Payments must be complete by the time you are 85 years of age, so this will dictate the length of the instalment terms available to you.
You do incur additional administration fees for spreading your costs over a longer period but you also have the flexibility to make additional payments if you have spare cash at any stage, which will in turn bring these costs down.
What’s more, Age Co will honour the services specified in your plan if you die before paying all your instalments, just as long as you have been paying instalments for at least 13 months and your payments are up to date.
Am I eligible for an Age UK funeral plan?
To be eligible for an Age UK funeral plan you must be at least 50 years of age. There is no upper age limit for payment in full or over 12 months however there is the 85 year threshold for monthly payment funeral plans.
Can I choose either a burial or cremation service?
Any of the Age UK funeral plans can be used for either cremation or burial services.
Can I cancel my plan?
Yes you can cancel an Age Co funeral plan. If you do so within the 30 day review period you will receive a full refund. If you cancel after the 30 days you will still receive a refund minus a cancellation fee of £249.
Who will my funeral director be?
Your funeral director will be one of the 1,300 funeral directors Dignity use. These are comprised of approximately 800 privately owned Dignity funeral directors and 500 approved independents who accept Dignity funeral plans.
The only exception is with the Age Co Basic funeral plan, where the funeral director has to be one of the 800 Dignity owned companies.
What happens to my funeral plan if I move home?
If you move home in the UK, just let Age Co know your new address (anywhere in the UK) and the plan will be moved at no extra cost.
What should I do now?
Now you have read the Age UK funeral plan review, you may want to:
- Compare FCA regulated plans with our funeral plan comparison service
- See how other companies compare with our funeral plan reviews
- Find out more about simple funeral plans with our guide to direct cremation
Compare prepaid plans