Why Plan Ahead?

Jewish funeral services usually take place shortly after the loss of a loved one. Pre-planning for the funeral allows families that precious time needed to make decisions regarding funeral options without the emotional stress related to the loss. The act of pre-planning also allows one to make ones personal wishes known.

How do I start?

Starting the pre-planning process can be as easy as your first phone call. Our funeral directors will lead you through the pre-arrangement process. You can be assured that our staff will be attentive to your every need. We will answer any question that you may have and will never pressure you into any decisions.

Do I have to pre-pay?

The most important part of the planning process is just that, planning. You will be given the option of pre-paying, paying over time, or not paying and just making your wishes known.

What are the benefits of pre-paying?

You will have the peace of mind knowing that everything is taken care of and that your family will not have to worry about financial matters in their time of grief. This is not a money saving device. This is a convenience.

Where does the money go?

When you pre-pay funeral expenses, the monies collected will be placed into an FDIC-insured trust account. 100% of your money will remain in your name in the trust until the time it is needed. The Pre-paid Funeral Trust holds money in trust for thousands of individual funeral accounts. The money is pooled and earns the best possible interest because of its size. You can open a trust account with as little as $500 and make payments until the funeral is fully paid.

What happens if I change my mind or I move?

When you pre-pay your funeral expenses, the monies collected will be placed into a revocable trust. You can change your mind and cash your money out at any time. If you move the money is fully transferable to any funeral home. If you have gone on Medicaid and the money was placed in an irrevocable trust, the money may not be cashed out. But if you move away, the account can be transferred to a funeral home in your new area.

Why should I pre-plan when applying for SSI/Medicaid?

By pre-planning during the application process for SSI/Medicaid, you will have the opportunity to plan and pay for a funeral out of your own funds, ensuring that the funeral services are to your exact wishes. If you wait until the funds are exhausted and you are relying on the Medicaid benefit to pay for your funeral, the Medicaid benefit is very limited and may not provide for the services you wish for.

Do I have to come to the funeral home?

Our funeral directors will accommodate you, whatever the need. Basic arrangements can be done at the funeral home, by phone, and by mail, or you can fill out the Information Sheet on this website and our staff will contact you.

Why Preplan Your Funeral?

A Jewish funeral service generally occurs very shortly after death  By planning ahead you’ll have time to express your wishes, and let family help, without the stress they’d have at that emotional time.

What’s the first step?

Call us or schedule an appointment right on this site. Our funeral directors will lead you through the pre-arrangement process. You can be assured that our staff will be attentive to your every need. We will answer any question that you may have and will never pressure you into any decisions.

Is paying ahead required for preplanning?

No. Coming up with a plan is the most important step.  You will be given the option of pre-paying, paying over time, or not paying and just documenting your wishes.

What are the benefits of pre-paying?

You will have the peace of mind knowing that everything is taken care of and that your family will not have to worry about financial matters in their time of grief. This is not a money saving device. This is a convenience.

Where does the money go?

When you pre-pay funeral expenses, the monies collected will be placed into an FDIC-insured trust account. 100% of your money will remain in your name in the trust until the time it is needed. The Pre-paid Funeral Trust holds money in trust for thousands of individual funeral accounts. The money is pooled and earns the best possible interest because of its size. You can open a trust account with as little as $500 and make payments until the funeral is fully paid.

What happens if I change my mind or I move?

When you pre-pay your funeral expenses, the monies collected will be placed into a revocable trust. You can change your mind and cash your money out at any time. If you move the money is fully transferable to any funeral home. If you have gone on Medicaid and the money was placed in an irrevocable trust, the money may not be cashed out. But if you move away, the account can be transferred to a funeral home in your new area.

Why should I pre-plan when applying for SSI/Medicaid?

By pre-planning during the application process for SSI/Medicaid, you will have the opportunity to plan and pay for a funeral out of your own funds, ensuring that the funeral services are to your exact wishes. If you wait until the funds are exhausted and you are relying on the Medicaid benefit to pay for your funeral, the Medicaid benefit is very limited and may not provide for the services you wish for.

Do I have to come to the funeral home?

Our funeral directors will accommodate you, whatever the need. Basic arrangements can be done at the funeral home, by phone, and by mail, or you can fill out the Information Sheet on this website and our staff will contact you.

Who can authorize the cremation?

The order of the priority set forth in Subdivision 2 of Section 4201 of the NYS Public Health Law is the Following:

  • Person designated in written instrument;
  • Spouse;
  • Domestic Partner;
  • Any Child 18 or Older;
  • Either Parent
  • Any Brother or Sister 18 or Older
  • Authorized Guardian;
  • Person 18 or Older now Eligible to Receive an Estate Distribution, in the following order:
    • Grandchildren;
    • Great-Grandchildren
    • Nieces and Nephews
    • Grand-nieces and Grand-nephews;
    • Grandparents;
    • Aunts and Uncles;
    • First Cousins
    • Great-Grandchildren of Grandparents;
    • Second Cousins;
  • Fiduciary
  • Close friend or other relative who is reasonably familiar with the decedent’s wishes, including his or her religious or moral beliefs, when no one higher on the list is available, Willing or competent to act; (Note: This person must complete an “At-Need written Statement of Person Having the Right to Control disposition” form)
  • Public administrator (or the same official in a county not having a public administrator);or anyone willing to act on behalf of the decedent who completes the “At-Need Written” Statement form.

How many Death Certificates do I need?

The number of Death Certificates you require will depend on your individual circumstances. Death certificates are normally required to settle the affairs of the deceased. Therefore, the number required will be dependent upon the quantity and status of these assets. You may wish to consult your legal advisor on this topic. You may also wish to download our Checklist of places where death certificates are normally needed using the link provided below.

What is a Veteran entitled too?

Veterans may be eligible for several different benefits and/or allowances.
All Honorably Discharged Veterans are entitled to certain benefits upon death, but may not be eligible for monetary allowances. To determine whether you qualify for a burial allowance or reimbursements, we encourage you to speak with Veterans Administration directly.
Each honorably discharged veteran is entitled to be buried in a VA cemetery (space permitting) and veterans who choose cremation may even elect to have their ashes placed in Arlington National Cemetery, if desired. In addition, the next of kin of an honorably discharged veteran will be eligible to receive a burial flag in their memory. We will assist you in obtaining a flag and can provide the forms necessary to apply for burial allowance.

Do I qualify for the HRA $695.00 reimbursement?

The Human Resources Administration (HRA) will provide financial assistance to individuals in need of assistance to meet funeral expenses. These funds are available when an indigent resident of New York City dies who may have been in receipt of SSI, PA or no public benefits at all, without leaving funds to cover their burial expenses and there are no relatives or friends willing or able to pay the funeral expenses. You can learn more here:
HRA Burial Claim Process Application (English)

Who notifies Social Security of the death?

We will send the initial death notification to Social Security. When a death occurs, Social Security must be notified. We will send the initial notification of death to the local SSA office (SSA Form 721) to inform them of the death. We then encourage the family to call Social Security at their earliest convenience to determine if benefits will need to be returned to Social Security and if the survivor qualifies for any Survivor Benefits from Social Security. For more information on this subject, you may wish to visit the Social Security Administration website.

Can I just keep the ashes at home?

Yes. In New York, you may keep the ashes at home with you as long as you choose. If you choose to keep the ashes at home, we would recommend that you consider keeping them in a decorative urn or container. However none is required by law.
Another very popular option is Keepsake Urns. Keepsake Urns are small decorative urns designed to hold a small portion of the ashes. This allows one or more family members to keep a small portion of the ashes while the remainder may be buried or scattered elsewhere. We offer several types of decorative urns and sharing urns suitable for this purpose and would invite you to browse our selection.

Can I have a memorial service at Plaza?

Our facilities provides two large chapels and most affordable amenities with ample parking for those attending the ceremony, visitation or gathering. Our spacious foyer is designed to warmly greet your guests attending the service. Our chapel is elegantly designed with a warm comfortable feeling unlike a typical funeral home. Since cremation is simply a matter of personal choice, All Boro Cremation Services offers three types of cremation pre-arrangements. Whether a family selects a Traditional Cremation Service, Memorial Cremation Service or a Direct Cremation, you can be assured that All Boro Cremation Services will orchestrate every detail to perfection.

Do I have to place an Obituary Notice?

Obituary Notices placed in newspapers are OPTIONAL and are not required. You are not required to publish a public obituary notice. If you wish to remain private and be selective of who is notified of a death, you may choose not to place any public notices. Many people, however, see a real value in placing a notice in the local newspapers and/or “back home” to notify friends and family in the area.

Who places the obituary Notice?

Our staff will assist you with the placement of any desired obituary notices.In some cases, the newspaper may only accept a notice if it is submitted by the funeral home.
Please note: MANY NEWSPAPERS NO LONGER OFFER FREE OBITUARY NOTICES. Be very careful when placing an obituary notice or requesting us to place a notice for you. There may be additional charges from the newspaper for the notice. We will always inquire about any additional charges and communicate with you about those charges BEFORE placing a notice on your behalf. Contact us directly for more information.

Can I just make copies of the Death Certificate?

No, you should not use photocopies in lieu of Certified Copies of the Death Certificate. Certified Copies of the Death Certificate are printed on special safety paper and have a raised seal. Photocopies are not usually accepted in situations where an official death certificate is required.

Does Social Security or the VA ever pay for the funeral?

No, Social Security does not pay for final arrangements. While certain survivors may be eligible for a survivor benefit, it will only be sent to the survivor and cannot be assigned by a funeral home or cremation service. For more information, visit the Social Security Administration website.
VA may pay a partial reimbursement to the purchaser for final expenses.While the VA may partially reimburse some veterans for final expenses, it is normally only available if the veteran was receiving financial benefits from the VA during life (i.e., retirement, disability, etc.). Determining if a veteran is eligible for a burial allowance can be complicated. We encourage you to speak with Veterans Administration directly.

How long does it normally take to complete a cremation?

Cremation is irreversible. Therefore there are several safe-guards in place to insure that a cremation is not performed prematurely.

  • In addition to this waiting period, the law requires that the Death Certificate be completed and signed by the certifying physician AND approved by the Medical Examiner in whose jurisdiction the death occurred. While physicians normally sign the death certificate as quickly as their busy schedules allow, it may sometimes take several days to get through this certification process.
  • Although this certification process before cremation does require some time, it also insures that cremations are not performed before any questions about the cause of death have been adequately answered.
  • The staff at All Boro Cremation Services will always make every effort to complete the cremation for you as promptly as procedural and legal requirements allow.

Is the funeral guaranteed?

Yes, no matter how far in the future it is, the plan will be carried out

Is my money protected?

Yes. 100% Preplanning a funeral in NY is considered the gold standard. Your money is safely in ther hands of a NY trustee.

Here’s how it works

– Talk to a Funeral Director

– We create a plan

– You review and sign (You keep a set and we keep a set)

– We forward to Trustee (We use Preplan.org The NYS funeral Associations Trustee) Preplan opens an interest-bearing FDIC account in your name. This account is safe, secure, fully refundable and portable SO, any changes to your plan are honored at no risk to you.

So. if I move or decide I want to be cremated instead what happens?

If you decide to move we can bring you back or you can get all your money back including the interest

What if I change the plan, and the changes reduce the cost of the funeral?

You get back the balance. (Unless it’s a Medicaid funded plan)

What if you go out of business?

Your money is safe thanks to preplan. If we can’t provide the service your money is completely safe under NYS law. You can find another funeral home or let preplan help you find one

Can you use our money prior to the service?

No, you don’t even issue check to Plaza, You issue it to Preplan and we do not get it until we furnish proof to preplan that we conducted a funeral service and provide a death certificate, the money remains in trust.

What’s the best way to put a plan in place?

– Its easy – setup a appointment in the chapel

– or at your home

– also call  (even mail)

How do you arrange a funeral if the deceased left no money or insurance?

If the deceased died without leaving any assets such a pre-funded funeral trust like PrePlan or adequate life insurance to arrange a funeral then the responsibility of paying funeral expenses falls on those surviving relatives or friends who wish to hold the funeral.

Federal and State agencies such as SSI or Medicaid do not provide any benefits directly to funeral homes for payment of services.  Social Security may provide a death benefit of $255 to a surviving spouse if they qualify.

Each local county government where the deceased lived has a Department of Human Resources or Social Services (NYC has one Dept. for Human Resources located in Brooklyn that handles all burial claims) that will take an application for a burial benefit for the deceased.  There may be many rules and restrictions placed on the services that the department may reimburse the family.

It may be necessary for the family and friends to re-evaluate their wishes concerning funeral arrangements to more realistically reflect the financial resources available.  Services such as a Direct Cremation or Direct Burial without a casket, viewing or service may have to be considered.

How much do I need to open a PrePlan account?

For a regular account the minimum deposit is $500.  After that you can make additional deposits any time you choose.

For a Select-Pay account the minimum deposit is $250 and after that a withdrawal is made from your checking account every month for the term you selected (12, 18, 24, 26 28, or 60-months) for the remaining balance.

Can I make monthly payments on my PrePlan arrangements?

Yes.  With a minimum deposit of $250 to open the account, then monthly withdrawals of the balance split into equal instalments depending on what term you want to make the payments.

You can select to pay the remaining balance of your PrePlan over 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 or 60-months in monthly instalments.