How the funeral and burial cover gap check works
Last updated 10 November 2026
Families often find out too late that cover does not match the real cost. This check compares the two amounts.
How it works
- Costs and cover are each added up.
- Gap = costs minus cover. A negative gap means the cover is more than the costs.
Worked example
With the starting figures:
- Expected costs are R 62 000 and cover that pays out is R 40 000.
- The gap is R 22 000.
What the check does
Families often find out too late that funeral cover does not match the real cost. This check compares two numbers: what a funeral is likely to cost and the cover that would pay out. The difference is the gap.
How to use it
- List the costs you expect, from quotes or from the funeral cost planner.
- List the cover you have, such as a funeral policy, a stokvel, a burial society or savings.
- Read the gap. A positive gap means the costs are higher than the cover. A negative gap means the cover is more than the costs.
Things that affect the cover
Cover that looks big on paper may pay out less in practice. It helps to check the points below with the provider.
- Waiting periods before a new policy pays for natural causes
- Different amounts for the main member, spouse, children and parents
- Whether the cover pays in cash or arranges the funeral itself
- How fast the money is paid out after the claim
- Whether the premium rises as the member gets older
What this does not do
The tool compares amounts. It does not assess a policy, judge a provider or say what cover a family needs. It also cannot say how long a claim will take. Use the figures as a starting point for a conversation with your provider or a licensed adviser.
Where the starting amounts come from
The amounts shown when the page opens are examples. Replace them with your own quotes and policy details. The figures stay in your browser and are not saved.
Things to watch
- Get quotes from more than one funeral parlour.
- Cover that pays on a death in the family may differ for adults, children and parents.
- It compares amounts only. It does not assess any policy.
Plan the costs in detail with the funeral cost planner. Read the full disclaimer.
Like every tool on MoneyMzansi, this one runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent or stored, so download your data if you want to keep it.