AVBOB Funeral Cover

AVBOB Mutual Assurance Society is the licensed insurer behind the policies. It sells three funeral plans that we could verify on its website:

• Cashback Funeral Cover: the main plan for individuals and families. It pays cash for every five consecutive claim-free years.
• Insurance Scheme for Pensioners: a group scheme with published monthly premiums by age band.
• Extended Family Funeral Cover: covers the whole family, including parents, parents-in-law and extended family members.

The plans table below shows cover, entry ages, waiting periods and premiums for each. AVBOB does not publish a premium table or an entry age for Cashback Funeral Cover, so you need a personal quote.

• AVBOB's 24-hour funeral services and claims number is 0861 28 26 21 (standard call rates apply). (avbob.co.za)
• Cashback Funeral Cover pays up to R50 000 for the main insured and spouse, and up to R30 000 for parents/extended family and children. (avbob.co.za)
• Six-month waiting period for natural death on Cashback Funeral Cover, no waiting period for accidental death once the policy has started and the first premium is paid. (avbob.co.za)
• AVBOB Funeral Service free funeral benefits (valued at up to R24 500): a free basic funeral valued at R16 000, R3 000 immediate cash payment, R3 000 discount on tombstone/cremation/aquamation, free transport within South Africa. They only apply if AVBOB Funeral Service conducts the funeral. (avbob.co.za)

Plans as AVBOB describes them on its own website on 30 September 2026. Premiums depend on your age, the cover amount and who you add, so the published figures are examples, not quotes.

Extra benefits AVBOB lists:

• Cashback Funeral Cover: Cash for every five consecutive claim-free years; accident benefit doubles insured amount to a maximum of R20,000 (main insured, before 60th birthday, within 90 days); up to four parents; up to six other extended family members; survivor benefit paid in six equal monthly instalments; breadwinner benefit; special non-guaranteed bonuses from time to time.
• Insurance Scheme for Pensioners (group scheme): Extra cover pays municipal grave costs, cost of removing/amending an existing tombstone, cremation fees, payments to church officials, fresh flowers.
• Extended Family Funeral Cover: Covers whole family including parents, parents-in-law and extended family members.

Sources: avbob.co.za/...avbob/cashback-funeral-cover, avbob.co.za/...ral-insurance-for-pensioners, avbob.co.za/...xtended-family-funeral-cover.

Checked on 30 September 2026 against AVBOB's official website. Numbers change, so confirm on the linked page before you call. AVBOB will never ask you to pay a claim fee or send money to a new bank account; if a caller does, hang up and phone the official number.

Sources: avbob.co.za/general/how-to-claim, avbob.co.za/general/contact-us.

AVBOB advertises free funeral benefits, but read the conditions first. They are provided by AVBOB Funeral Service Limited, which is a separate company within the AVBOB group from the insurer. They apply only if AVBOB Funeral Service conducts the funeral, and they need 24 months of cover.

AVBOB's own pages have not agreed on the value of the benefit. Older pages show one figure and the current free funeral benefits page shows another. Ask AVBOB for the current figure in writing before you count on it. If you would rather use your own undertaker, the benefit does not apply, and the cash cover is what matters.

On Cashback Funeral Cover the waiting period is six months for natural death. It applies to all benefits and all insured persons and starts on the issue date. There is no waiting period for accidental death once the policy has started and the first premium is paid.

AVBOB may waive the six months in part or in full if you had cover with another insurer that lapsed or was cancelled within 31 days before your issue date. Tell AVBOB about your previous policy when you apply.

On the pensioner scheme, monthly premiums carry a six-month waiting period for natural death. A once-off payment has no waiting period once the policy is issued and the single premium is received.

The law also protects you. A funeral policy may not impose a waiting period longer than six months for natural death, and none may apply to accidental death. You can cancel a new policy within 31 days of receiving the policy information, if no benefit has been paid or claimed.

Call the claims line on 0861 28 26 21 and ask what AVBOB needs. AVBOB's how-to-claim page lists these documents:

• A copy of the computerised death certificate, stamped by an AVBOB official or certified.
• A copy of the deceased's ID (or both sides of the smart ID card), stamped by the branch or certified.
• A copy of the claimant's ID, stamped or certified.
• A copy of the beneficiary's ID, if the beneficiary is not the claimant.
• A copy of a valid bank statement of the claimant or beneficiary.

For an unnatural death, add a declaration from the South African Police Service. For an accidental benefit claim, AVBOB also asks for the police report, the post-mortem report and any court judgments or findings.

AVBOB says a claim is processed within 48 hours once the documents are verified as authentic. Some claims are assessed at random for fraud first, and that can take up to 21 days, 3 days on average.

ASISA, the industry body, says the main reasons funeral claims are declined are waiting periods, fraud and unpaid premiums. Ask AVBOB for the reason in writing. You can send a complaint to [email protected].

If you are not satisfied, take it to the National Financial Ombud Scheme. The service is free. You can lodge a complaint at nfosa.co.za/submit-a-complaint/, call 0860 800 900, or email [email protected]. Try AVBOB first, but that is not a legal requirement. The Ombud can dismiss a complaint if three years or more have passed since you knew, or should have known, there was cause to complain, so do not wait.

AVBOB suits families who want the insurer and the funeral service under one roof and who plan to use AVBOB Funeral Service. It also suits pensioners from age 55 who want published premiums, or a once-off payment with no waiting period.

It suits you less if you want to choose your own undertaker, because the free funeral benefits would not apply. Cashback and Extended Family premiums are not published, so compare a written quote against other providers on our compare funeral cover page.