Sanlam's funeral cover is one of the most feature-rich products in the South African market, with one large caveat sitting in the fine print: a waiting period twice as long as most competitors. Both halves of that sentence should shape whether it is right for your family.
FuneralCosts is independent and has no affiliation with Sanlam. Facts come from Sanlam's published product pages and policy FAQs as checked in July 2026; confirm current terms before buying. This is general information, not financial advice.
The product at a glance
| Sanlam Funeral Cover | |
|---|---|
| Cover amount | Up to R100,000 each, main member and spouse |
| Family size | Up to 22 people, including parents, in-laws and wider family |
| Waiting period | 12 months, natural causes; accidents covered immediately |
| Switching concession | Waiting period may be waived with previous funeral cover |
| Claims | Most claims advertised as paid within 4 hours after verification |
| Premiums | Advertised from R80 per month |
| Underwriter | Sanlam Developing Markets Ltd, a licensed life insurer |
The 12-month waiting period, read this first
Most South African funeral policies impose a waiting period of around six months for natural-cause deaths. Sanlam's current online product documents state 12 months, which the insurer links to keeping premiums affordable. Three practical implications:
- Buying fresh cover for an elderly or ill relative on this product means a full year of natural-cause exposure. For that use case, compare against six-month products; see funeral cover for parents.
- The waiting period applies per person, including lives added to the policy later.
- Switchers can escape it. Sanlam advertises that with previous funeral cover the waiting period may be waived. If you are moving from another insurer, get that waiver confirmed in writing before cancelling anything; our switching guide explains the sequence.
Accidental death is covered from the start, as is standard.
The feature list, which is genuinely long
- Triple accident payout. Sanlam advertises a triple payout if a covered person dies in an accident, against the double payout common elsewhere.
- Tombstone and memorial cover from R10,000 to R100,000, addressing the second big purchase most families face; see our tombstone buying guide.
- Grocery benefit of R1,000 per month for six months if the main member or spouse dies.
- Cashback every three years while premiums are paid, a shorter cycle than the five-year cashbacks common in the market.
- Premium pause of up to 12 months in defined circumstances such as unemployment or pregnancy, and a premium waiver that keeps the family covered without premiums if the main member dies before 65 or becomes permanently disabled.
- Annual cover increases to counter inflation, and no medical tests or health questions.
What to check before you sign
- The waiting period on your specific policy schedule. Sanlam sells funeral cover through several channels and the terms differ; the 12 months above comes from the current online product's documents. Whatever you are quoted, the number on the schedule is the one that counts.
- Which benefits are included versus optional. Feature-rich products often price features separately; ask for the premium with and without the add-ons.
- Per-life benefits for extended family, which may differ from the main member's amount.
- The real premium for your family. The advertised from-R80 entry point applies to minimal cover; compare three quotes for the same benefit and lives using the method in best funeral cover in South Africa.
For the waiting-period, licence and lapse checks that apply to any funeral policy - not just this one - see our funeral cover comparison checklist.
How Sanlam compares
If you already hold funeral cover and can transfer with the waiting period waived, Sanlam's benefit stack (triple accident payout, tombstone cover, fast claims) is among the strongest in the market. If you are buying first-time cover for an older relative, the 12-month natural-cause window is a real cost of entry that a six-month competitor avoids. Size the benefit from what funerals actually cost, and verify any seller with the FSCA on 0800 110 443.
Frequently asked
- What is Sanlam's funeral cover waiting period?
- Sanlam's current online funeral product documents state a 12-month waiting period for death by natural causes, which is longer than the six months common elsewhere in the market. Accidental death is covered immediately, and Sanlam advertises that the waiting period may be waived if you had previous funeral cover, so switchers should claim that credit in writing.
- How much cover does Sanlam funeral insurance offer?
- Up to R100,000 each for the main member and spouse, with up to 22 people coverable on one policy including parents, in-laws and wider family, according to Sanlam's published product page. No medical tests or health questions are required.
- How fast does Sanlam pay funeral claims?
- Sanlam advertises that most funeral claims are paid within four hours once documents are verified, which is among the fastest published claim commitments in the South African market. Have the death certificate, ID copies and bank details ready; our claims guide lists the full document set.
Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of August 2026. Procedures, fees and regulations change - verify critical details with your funeral parlour, Home Affairs or the FSCA before acting on them.