Budget 2014- Changes in Funeral Benefits
Following the death of a person, the government offers several benefits and entitlements to the bereaved. The Department of Social Protection local representatives deal with some of these payments.
Some of these benefits are means tested which requires that you must have made a certain number of PRSI contributions to be eligible for some social welfare payments. Time limits apply for many payments, so early notification and application is always advisable.
Help with Costs of Funeral
Bereavement Grant
This is a once-off payment paid out to by the Department of Social Welfare and Protection. Your eligibility is not related to your ability to pay for the funeral, it is based on PRSI contributions.
Widowed or Surviving Partner Grant
This is a once-off payment to widows/widowers/surviving civil partners with dependent children.
Funeral Grant
This is available if someone dies from an accident at work. This special funeral grant is paid instead of the Bereavement Grant.
Whether you qualify or not for one of the above grants you may be eligible for an Exceptional Needs Payment to help with funeral costs if you are on a low income. Each case is decided on its merits.
When claiming a grant, the onus is on the person to provide the certificates, documents and any information required such as
- Death Certificate
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate (to prove your relationship to the deceased)
- Funeral receipts
- The deceased’s Personal Public Service Number (PPS Number)
- Your PPS number may also be required
Other Additional Benefits
Depending on your income and circumstances you may be entitled to a social welfare payment in your own right such as:
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension and related social welfare benefits may be payable if either you or your deceased spouse or civil partner has enough PRSI contributions. It is paid to widowed people or surviving civil partners without dependent children, who do not qualify for a contributory pension and who pass a means test.
Guardian’s Payment is paid to the child’s guardian up to the child’s 18th birthday or 22nd birthday if he or she is in full-time education.
One-Parent Family Payment can be paid to you if you are parenting alone as a result of the death of your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. If you also qualify for a Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension you will have to choose which payment is of most benefit to you because you cannot get both.
Death Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Scheme may be paid to their surviving spouse or civil partner if a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.
Changes in the Budget
Bereavement Grant
From January 2014 the Bereavement Grant of €850 will be discontinued.
The Funeral Grant under the Occupational Injuries Scheme will continue to be paid. The six weeks’ payment after death (where the deceased person’s payment continues for 6 weeks to their spouse or partner who is also getting a weekly welfare payment), the Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner’s Grant of €6,000 and assistance with funeral costs under Exceptional Needs Payments are unaffected.