After the Funeral

The widowed or surviving civil partner grant is a once-off payment to widows, widowers or surviving civil partners with dependent children, or children in full time education. The current rate is €6000.

There is health board assistance available through the Department of Social Protection Officers at your local health centre. This officer will consider the status and means of the claimant and the deceased. A tailored, itemised funeral account, in the name of the claimant will be required. A cheque, if issued, will then be made payable directly to the funeral director.

When a person dies while in receipt of a social welfare payment, the payment will usually continue to be paid to the surviving partner/carer for six weeks after the date of death, if they are a named dependent/carer.

Most Credit Unions have a Death Benefit Insurance policy for each member. On receipt of a death certificate and funeral account the Credit Union will pay this benefit directly to the funeral director. The amount varies depending on the credit union.