Metropolitan Funeral Cover: Complete Guide for South Africans

Everything you need to know about protecting your family with affordable funeral insurance

Last updated: January 2025

⚡ Quick Facts

Premiums start from just R40 per month
Cover up to 20 family members on one plan
Get up to R100,000 cover for yourself and immediate family
Valid WhatsApp claims paid within 4 hours
No medical tests or blood tests required
Metropolitan FSP Number: 44673 (verify this before signing)

📑 What’s In This Guide

1. What Is Metropolitan Funeral Cover? 2. Why Do You Need Funeral Cover? 3. Benefits You Get 4. How Much Does It Cost? 5. Who Can Be Covered?

6. How To Apply 7. Waiting Periods 8. How To Claim 9. Avoid Funeral Cover Scams 10. Other Options To Consider

1. What Is Metropolitan Funeral Cover?

Metropolitan funeral cover is insurance that pays money when someone dies. This money helps your family pay for the funeral. They won’t have to borrow money or use savings.

Metropolitan is one of South Africa’s oldest insurance companies. They started in 1897 in Cape Town. Today, they are part of Momentum Metropolitan Life Limited. This is a very big and trusted company.

With Metropolitan, you pay a small amount each month. This is called a premium. When you or a covered family member passes away, Metropolitan pays out a lump sum. This can be up to R100,000.

💡 Simple Explanation: Think of it like saving money in a jar every month. But if someone passes away before you save enough, Metropolitan gives your family the full amount anyway. That’s the power of insurance.

2. Why Do You Need Funeral Cover?

Funerals in South Africa are expensive. Many families struggle to pay. Here’s what funerals really cost in 2025:

Funeral Item	Cost Range
Burial plot (municipal)	R2,200 – R11,000
Burial plot (private cemetery)	R14,000 – R50,000+
Coffin or casket	R450 – R50,000
Undertaker fees	R4,000 – R10,000
Tombstone	R1,500 – R7,000+
Catering (per person)	R80 – R150
Cremation	R5,000 – R15,000
Average Total Funeral	R20,000 – R50,000+

In some cases, funerals can cost R70,000 to R84,000. This happens when there is repatriation or traditional ceremonies. Without funeral cover, your family may need to borrow money at high interest rates.

⚠️ Important: Many South Africans are under-insured. They have cover for R20,000 or R30,000. But their funeral costs R50,000 or more. Make sure your cover is enough for today’s prices.

✅ 3. Benefits You Get With Metropolitan

Metropolitan funeral cover comes with many benefits. Some are included free. Others you can add for extra cost.

Free Benefits (Included in Your Plan)

🚐 Body Transportation: Metropolitan pays to transport the deceased person’s body to the burial place anywhere in South Africa.

⏸️ Premium Holiday: If you have money problems, you can skip paying your premium sometimes. Your cover stays active. You can do this up to 6 times over the life of your policy.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Continuation: When the main policyholder dies, a family member can take over the plan. The remaining family members stay covered.

💀 Immediate Accidental Death Cover: If you die from an accident, you’re covered from day one. No waiting period for accidents.

Optional Benefits (Extra Cost)

Benefit	What It Does
CashBack Benefit	Get 12.5% of your premiums back after 24 months. Then every 36 months after that.
Payment Protection	If you become disabled, retire, or pass away, your premiums are paid for you.
Value Protection (AIM)	Your cover increases each year to keep up with inflation. Funeral costs go up every year.
Memorial Benefit	Extra money for a tombstone or memorial ceremony. Up to R15,000.
Monthly Essentials	Helps your family with living expenses after a death. Covers groceries and bills.
Accidental Death Booster	Extra R30,000 paid if death is from an accident.

💡 Tip: The CashBack benefit costs about 16.5% extra on your premium. Calculate if it’s worth it for you. If you can afford it, it’s nice to get money back while you’re alive!

💰 4. How Much Does Metropolitan Funeral Cover Cost?

Metropolitan funeral cover starts from just R40 per month. But your actual premium depends on several things:

How many people you want to cover
The ages of everyone on the policy
How much cover you choose (R5,000 to R100,000)
Which optional benefits you add

Cover Amount Options

Who Is Covered	Maximum Cover
You (policyholder)	Up to R100,000
Your life partner/spouse	Up to R100,000
Your children	Up to R100,000
Parents and in-laws	Up to R70,000
Extended family members	Up to R70,000

Example Monthly Premiums

Here are some examples. Your actual premium may be different:

Type of Cover	Estimated Premium
Basic cover for one person (R10,000)	From R40/month
Family cover (you + spouse + 2 children)	From R100 – R200/month
Extended family (including parents)	From R200 – R400/month
Maximum cover with all benefits	R500+/month

💡 Tip: Get a proper quote from Metropolitan. Call 0860 724 724 or visit their website. Each quote is unique to your situation. The agent can help you find the right balance between cover and cost.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 5. Who Can Be Covered on Your Plan?

You can cover up to 20 family members on one Metropolitan funeral plan. Here’s who you can include:

Immediate Family (Up to R100,000 cover each)

You (the policyholder) – must be 19 years or older
Your life partner or spouse
Your children – natural, adopted, or step-children

Parents (Up to R70,000 cover each)

Your mother and father
Your spouse’s mother and father (in-laws)
Up to 4 parents in total

Extended Family (Up to R70,000 cover each)

Brothers and sisters
Grandparents
Aunts and uncles
Up to 9 extended family members

Important Rules

All covered people must be younger than 85 years old
All covered people must live in South Africa
If someone lives outside SA for more than 12 months in a row, their cover ends
Children can be covered for life, or until age 21 – you choose
When a child turns 21 or gets married, tell Metropolitan within 3 months

📝 6. How To Apply for Metropolitan Funeral Cover

Applying for Metropolitan funeral cover is easy. There are no medical tests or blood tests. Here’s what you need:

Documents You Need

Your South African ID document
Proof of income (payslip or bank statement)
Proof of address (utility bill or rental agreement)
ID numbers of everyone you want to cover
Contact details of your beneficiaries

Step-by-Step Application

Step 1: Contact Metropolitan

Call 0860 724 724, visit a branch, or go to www.metropolitan.co.za

Step 2: Get a Quote

Tell them who you want to cover and how much cover you need. They will give you a price.

Step 3: Choose Your Benefits

Decide which optional benefits you want. The agent will explain each one.

Step 4: Complete the Application

Fill in the form and provide your documents. You can do this online or at a branch.

Step 5: Set Up Payment

Give your bank details for debit order. Premiums come off your account each month.

Step 6: Get Your Policy Documents

Metropolitan will send your policy by email or post within 31 days.

💡 Tip: You have 30 days to cancel your policy if you change your mind. This is called the “cooling off” period. You get your money back.

⏰ 7. Understanding Waiting Periods

A waiting period is time when you pay premiums but cannot claim yet. All funeral cover has waiting periods. This stops people from signing up only when they’re already sick.

Metropolitan Waiting Periods

Who Is Covered	Natural Death	Accidental Death
Policyholder, spouse, children	3 months	No waiting period
Parents and in-laws	3 months	No waiting period
Extended family	6 months	No waiting period

🚨 Important: Suicide is excluded for the first 2 years of the policy. This is standard across all funeral cover providers.

💡 Good News: If you already have funeral cover from another company, you might not have a new waiting period. Ask Metropolitan about “waiting period waivers” when you apply.

📱 8. How To Claim From Metropolitan

When someone on your policy passes away, you need to claim as soon as possible. Metropolitan makes this easy with multiple options:

Claim Methods

📱

Send “Claim” to 0860 724 724

Paid in 4 hours!

📞

Phone

Call 0860 724 724

Up to 48 hours

🏢

Branch Visit

Go to any Metropolitan branch

Up to 48 hours

Documents Needed for a Claim

Death certificate (BI-1663 form)
ID document of the deceased
Your ID document (as claimant)
Policy number
Bank details for payment
Proof of relationship to deceased (if required)

Step-by-Step Claim Process

Step 1: Contact Metropolitan as soon as possible after the death

Step 2: Tell them the policy holder’s surname, ID, and date of birth

Step 3: Submit all required documents

Step 4: Metropolitan will verify and process your claim

Step 5: Money is paid to your bank account

✅ Good to Know: Metropolitan pays up to 86% of funeral claims within 24 hours. WhatsApp claims are even faster – just 4 hours for valid claims!

🚨 9. DANGER: Avoid Funeral Cover Scams

Funeral cover scams are very common in South Africa. Criminals steal millions of Rand from unsuspecting people. Learn how to protect yourself.

🔴 Red Flags – Warning Signs of a Scam

❌ Cash payments: They collect premiums in cash, door-to-door

❌ No FSP number: They can’t give you a valid FSP registration number

❌ No policy documents: You don’t receive proper paperwork

❌ Spelling errors: Documents have mistakes and look unprofessional

❌ No office address: They can’t tell you where their office is

❌ Pushy sales: They pressure you to sign immediately

❌ Social media only: They only contact you through Facebook or WhatsApp

✅ How to Protect Yourself

✔️ Check the FSP number: Metropolitan’s FSP number is 44673. Verify at www.fsca.co.za

✔️ Pay by debit order: Never pay cash for funeral cover

✔️ Get documents: Always get a policy document and keep it safe

✔️ Use official channels: Only contact Metropolitan at 0860 724 724 or www.metropolitan.co.za

✔️ Ask questions: A legitimate company will answer all your questions

Report Suspected Scams To:

FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority)	0800 110 443
FAIS Ombud	012 470 9080
SA Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS)	011 867 2234 or protection@safps.org.za
South African Police Service	10111

🔄 10. Other Funeral Cover Options to Consider

Metropolitan is a good choice, but it’s smart to compare options. Here are other trusted funeral cover providers in South Africa:

Provider	Starting Premium	Max Cover	Special Features
Metropolitan	R40/month	R100,000	4-hour WhatsApp claims, CashBack
Sanlam	R80/month	R100,000	Triple payout for accidents, grocery benefit
AVBOB	R50/month	R70,000	Funeral home discounts, 20% CashBack every 5 years
Old Mutual	R100/month	R100,000	24-hour claims via iWYZE
1Life	R50/month	R50,000	R6,000 grocery benefit, repatriation
Clientèle	R80/month	R50,000	24-hour claim promise

Other Ways to Prepare for Funeral Costs

🤝 Burial Society (Stokvel): A community group where members contribute monthly. Good for community support, but no legal guarantee of payout.

💰 Savings Account: Save money specifically for funeral costs. But you need years to save enough.

📋 Life Insurance: Some life insurance policies include funeral benefits. Check if your work provides this.

💡 Our Advice: Formal funeral insurance from a registered provider is the safest option. Burial societies can help but shouldn’t be your only protection. Always check that any provider is registered with the FSCA.

📞 Metropolitan Contact Details

📞 Call Centre	0860 724 724
📱 WhatsApp	0860 724 724 (send “Hi” to start)
🌐 Website	www.metropolitan.co.za
📍 Find a Branch	www.metropolitan.co.za/service-centre/find-a-branch/
🔢 FSP Number	44673 (verify at www.fsca.co.za)
🏢 Parent Company	Momentum Metropolitan Life Limited

⚖️ Your Rights and Where to Complain

If you have problems with Metropolitan or any funeral cover provider, you have the right to complain. Here’s where to go:

FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority)	0800 110 443 \| www.fsca.co.za
FAIS Ombud (For advice and broker complaints)	012 470 9080 \| www.faisombud.co.za
Long-term Insurance Ombudsman	021 657 5000 \| www.ombud.co.za
National Consumer Commission	0860 003 600

💡 Tip: Always try to resolve your complaint with Metropolitan first. Call 0860 724 724 and ask to speak to their complaints department. If they don’t help, then go to the Ombud or FSCA.

✨ Our Final Recommendations

Metropolitan funeral cover is a good choice because they are one of South Africa’s oldest and most trusted insurers. They have over 125 years of experience and are properly registered with the FSCA (FSP 44673).

Before you sign up:

Calculate how much cover you really need based on current funeral costs
Compare quotes from at least 2-3 providers
Make sure you can afford the premium long-term
Understand the waiting periods
Keep your policy documents safe
Tell your family about the policy and how to claim

Remember: The best funeral cover is one you can afford to pay every month, with enough cover to give your loved ones a dignified funeral without financial stress.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and was last updated in January 2025. Financial regulations, fees, and product terms may change. Always verify current information directly with Metropolitan or your financial adviser before making any decisions.

Metropolitan Life is part of Momentum Metropolitan Life Limited, a licensed life insurer and authorised financial services provider (FSP 44673) and registered credit provider (NCRCP 173).

For complaints or disputes, contact the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) at 0800 110 443 or visit www.fsca.co.za

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